> there cannot exist an easy way for a typical non-technical user to install “unverified apps” (whatever that means), because the governments of countries where such scams are widespread will hold Google responsible.

What, the same way they hold Microsoft responsible for the fact that you can install whatever you want in Windows?

Obviously, there can exist an easy way for a non-technical user to install unverified apps, because there has always been one.

This is actually a good point, and something I've been wondering about too. What changed between the 90s and now, that Microsoft didn't get blamed for malware on Windows, but Google/Apple would be blamed now for malware on their devices? It seems that the environment today is different, in the sense that if (widespread) PCs only came into existence now, the PC makers would be considered responsible for harms therefrom (this is a subjective opinion of course).

Assuming this is true (ignore if you disagree), why is that? Is it that PCs never became as widespread as phones (used by lots of people who are likely targets for scammers and losing their life savings etc), or technology was still new and lawmakers didn't concern themselves with it, or PCs (despite the name) were still to a large extent "office" devices, or the sophistication of scammers was lower then, or…? Even today PCs are being affected by ransomware (for example) but Microsoft doesn't get held responsible, so why are phones different?