feat: Google authentication bypass for Matter device comissioning in GMS

[PAI5REECHO]

Application

• Google Play Services (com.google.android.gms)

Issue

GMS provides an API you can integrate into your own application for enrolling Smart Home products that use the Matter standard. The API makes authenticated requests to Google's servers that are not needed for the API to complete its functionality.

Patch

Strip all unnecessary authenticated endpoint requests to Googles servers that cause a failure as seen here: https://github.com/home-assistant/android/issues/3859#issuecomment-1714947989

Motivation

To lessen Google's ability to collect personal data and force users to create an account for no reason.

Acknowledgements

• [X] I have searched the existing issues and this is a new and no duplicate or related to another open issue.
• [X] I have written a short but informative title.
• [X] I filled out all of the requested information in this issue properly.

[oSumAtrIX]

How do you plan to install GMS? The only way I can see is through mounting which requires root. Also FOSS GMS implementations exist such as GmsCore by MicroG.

[PAI5REECHO]

@oSumAtrIX there's a request already for microG (https://github.com/microg/GmsCore/issues/2031), but as mentioned this would require a lot of work (https://github.com/home-assistant/android/issues/3859#issuecomment-1715761009):

The effort to completely build commissioning in the app is currently too big which is why the app depends on the Google Play Services flow.

Obviously it'd require root due to GMS being installed as a system app. I'm on a rooted device. I think patching GMS is easier than writing entire app API from scratch.

[PAI5REECHO]

Is there a way I can put a bounty on this patch using crypto (bountysource or something)?

[oSumAtrIX]

Yes, you can simply add it to the issue description. Your patch request is unclear though, please explain it in detail if you want anyone to pick it up.