We asked Google for a comment.
While the option to sideload the app will soften the blow, it won’t exactly thrill the community. Several governments (including the US, UK, France and Germany) use Element and the Matrix network alongside universities and businesses – losing easy access to the app can be a significant hassle.
The shift comes as technology giants become increasingly sensitive to the content of the applications they provide or host. Apple and Google cracked down on Parler after the US Capitol rebellion, for example. If Google pulled Element for content that wasn’t on the app’s manufacturer’s servers, however, that would be problematic – it would effectively ask the team to examine an entire online platform, not just the section it can moderate.