Google won't allow you to install Android apps whose developers' identity Google hasn't verified. Starting in 2026 in some countries and in 2027 everywhere: androidauthority.com/android-d…
Google wants to make sideloading Android apps safer by verifying developers’ identities - Android Authority
Google wants to make sideloading safer on Android by verifiying the identities of developers who distribute apps outside the Play Store.Mishaal Rahman (Android Authority)
This entry was edited (1 week ago)
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Torsten Grote
in reply to Torsten Grote • • •We need to fight Google's new ID requirement for app developers. It isn't like showing ID at the airport. More like showing it at the printing press and only IDed authors are allowed to print books.
What Google doesn't talk about is that they build this ID system to ban developers and their apps.
Torsten Grote
in reply to Torsten Grote • • •Torsten Grote
in reply to Torsten Grote • • •People saying "But I use a degoogled custom ROM, so I won't be affected" are missing the point. Apps not on Google Play are already a niche. Banning them on most people's devices is a big issue, even if some people can still escape.
Also the general trend of Google becoming more closed may make even custom ROMs impossible eventually.
Torsten Grote
in reply to Torsten Grote • • •Torsten Grote
in reply to Torsten Grote • • •Under-reported detail: If you don't pay a fee to Google, they limit how many people can install your apps and how many apps you are allowed to have.
Source: developer.android.com/develope…
Android developer verification | Android Developers
Android DevelopersKoro!! 🐳 ΘΔ reshared this.
Torsten Grote
in reply to Torsten Grote • • •Google asks what we think of their plans to block Android app installs outside of Google Play (unless the developers let Google verify their identity and pay a fee).
Want to tell them your opinion, just submit this form:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…
Android developer verification requirements
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IzzyOnDroid ✅
in reply to Torsten Grote • • •And for developers who who will not go that road (I guess most of the FOSS devs who have their apps explicitly NOT on PlayStore), there's this library: github.com/woheller69/FreeDroi… to let the folks using their apps know (and hopefully raise more noise).
(I haven't seen it in action yet, but the idea seems sound)
I hope the @EUCommission will take action against Google's abuse of power there, though I wonder if they'd do so in time…
GitHub - woheller69/FreeDroidWarn
GitHubplausibel
in reply to IzzyOnDroid ✅ • • •@IzzyOnDroid @EUCommission
@hax uff, das sieht düster aus.
Dave/Loebas
in reply to Torsten Grote • • •Frank
in reply to Torsten Grote • • •As an example I'd like to add: In our school we actively explain to our pupils how to install F-Droid to demonstrate, that there are ways to control your device, for example to get an ad-free YT experience with Newpipe. So you can explain problems like walled gardens etc
The whole educational aspects are gone, when this is no longer possible, it does not matter if some nerd is able to circumvent the restriction - every Android device will no longer be his/hers for the average user.
Frank
in reply to Frank • • •In the end, users will be accustomed to the fact, that they can no longer control which apps do and don't run on their devices.
I often think of the brilliant talk by @pluralistic - this is from 2021 (!) an the big corps follow their goal relentlessly.
"The coming war on general computation"
media.ccc.de/v/import-6942ef79…
The coming war on general computation
media.ccc.de