Android Developer Verification - Revision history

SJH111: Added:The vast majority of Android devices sold outside of China in the section Affected devices

2026-03-22T16:23:15Z

Added:The vast majority of Android devices sold outside of China in the section Affected devices

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:23, 22 March 2026
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	*Devices with Play Protect		*Devices with Play Protect
	*All mainstream Android devices from manufacturers including Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola, OnePlus, and Google Pixel		*All mainstream Android devices from manufacturers including Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola, OnePlus, and Google Pixel
			*The vast majority of Android devices sold outside of China

	Custom ROMs without Google services & uncertified devices are not affected by these restrictions.		Custom ROMs without Google services & uncertified devices are not affected by these restrictions.

SJH111: Modifing Jean-Héon arguement in the Privacy and safety concerns. Adding Jean-Héon argument in the Criticism section.

2026-03-22T16:13:45Z

Modifing Jean-Héon arguement in the Privacy and safety concerns. Adding Jean-Héon argument in the Criticism section.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:13, 22 March 2026
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	*Open source developers fear harassment and doxxing after forced identity disclosure		*Open source developers fear harassment and doxxing after forced identity disclosure
	*F-Droid mentions that play store verification is proven to be ineffective at combating malware due to repeated instances of malware distributed through play store<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Arntz \|first=Pieter \|date=2025-09-17 \|title=224 malicious apps removed from the Google Play Store after ad fraud campaign discovered \|url=https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/09/224-malicious-apps-removed-from-the-google-play-store-after-ad-fraud-campaign-discovered \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005173848/www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/09/224-malicious-apps-removed-from-the-google-play-store-after-ad-fraud-campaign-discovered \|archive-date=2025-10-05 \|website=malwarebytes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Thompson \|first=Lain \|date=2025-08-26 \|title=Malware-ridden apps made it into Google's Play Store, scored 19 million downloads \|url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/apps_android_malware/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005173850/www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/apps_android_malware/ \|archive-date=2025-10-05 \|website=The Register}}</ref>		*F-Droid mentions that play store verification is proven to be ineffective at combating malware due to repeated instances of malware distributed through play store<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Arntz \|first=Pieter \|date=2025-09-17 \|title=224 malicious apps removed from the Google Play Store after ad fraud campaign discovered \|url=https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/09/224-malicious-apps-removed-from-the-google-play-store-after-ad-fraud-campaign-discovered \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005173848/www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/09/224-malicious-apps-removed-from-the-google-play-store-after-ad-fraud-campaign-discovered \|archive-date=2025-10-05 \|website=malwarebytes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Thompson \|first=Lain \|date=2025-08-26 \|title=Malware-ridden apps made it into Google's Play Store, scored 19 million downloads \|url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/apps_android_malware/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005173850/www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/apps_android_malware/ \|archive-date=2025-10-05 \|website=The Register}}</ref>
	*Jean-Héon points out that mandatory developer registration puts users at risk by pushing them to use dangerous workarounds to install unverified APKs of their choice~~. It~~ also puts developers at risk by exposing them to data leaks and identity theft. Jean-Héon advocates for a solution based on the device's antivirus software. <ref>{{Cite web \|title=Google restricts the installation of third-party APKs on Android: what this means for Jean-Héon™. (Updated March 21, 2026). \|url=https://sites.google.com/view/jean-honmctm/communiqu%C3%A9press-releases/keep-android-open-english}}</ref>		*Jean-Héon points out that mandatory developer registration puts users at risk by pushing them to use dangerous workarounds to install unverified APKs of their choice and also puts developers at risk by exposing them to data leaks and identity theft. Jean-Héon advocates for a solution based on the device's antivirus software. <ref>{{Cite web \|title=Google restricts the installation of third-party APKs on Android: what this means for Jean-Héon™. (Updated March 21, 2026). \|url=https://sites.google.com/view/jean-honmctm/communiqu%C3%A9press-releases/keep-android-open-english}}</ref>

	===Open source community impact===		===Open source community impact===
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	*OSnews criticized it as "the death of our digital freedoms"		*OSnews criticized it as "the death of our digital freedoms"
	*Hackaday noted the timing "coincides with Google's court-mandated opening of Android following Epic Games' antitrust victory"<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-08-26 \|title=Google Will Require Developer Verification Even For Sideloading \|url=https://hackaday.com/2025/08/26/google-will-require-developer-verification-even-for-sideloading/ \|website=Hackaday \|access-date=2025-08-29 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203082923/https://hackaday.com/2025/08/26/google-will-require-developer-verification-even-for-sideloading/ \|archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref>		*Hackaday noted the timing "coincides with Google's court-mandated opening of Android following Epic Games' antitrust victory"<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-08-26 \|title=Google Will Require Developer Verification Even For Sideloading \|url=https://hackaday.com/2025/08/26/google-will-require-developer-verification-even-for-sideloading/ \|website=Hackaday \|access-date=2025-08-29 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203082923/https://hackaday.com/2025/08/26/google-will-require-developer-verification-even-for-sideloading/ \|archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref>
			*According to Jean-Héon “Android Developer Verification is an absurdity for the free mobile ecosystem.”<ref>{{Cite web \|title= \|url=https://sites.google.com/view/jean-honmctm/communiqu%C3%A9press-releases/keep-android-open-english}}</ref>

	==Impact on specific use cases==		==Impact on specific use cases==

2001:4BC9:905:4F9D:2205:B7FF:FE00:E700: /* References */ add title

2026-03-22T12:47:41Z

References: add title

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:47, 22 March 2026
Line 134:		Line 134:
	*Open source developers fear harassment and doxxing after forced identity disclosure		*Open source developers fear harassment and doxxing after forced identity disclosure
	*F-Droid mentions that play store verification is proven to be ineffective at combating malware due to repeated instances of malware distributed through play store<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Arntz \|first=Pieter \|date=2025-09-17 \|title=224 malicious apps removed from the Google Play Store after ad fraud campaign discovered \|url=https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/09/224-malicious-apps-removed-from-the-google-play-store-after-ad-fraud-campaign-discovered \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005173848/www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/09/224-malicious-apps-removed-from-the-google-play-store-after-ad-fraud-campaign-discovered \|archive-date=2025-10-05 \|website=malwarebytes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Thompson \|first=Lain \|date=2025-08-26 \|title=Malware-ridden apps made it into Google's Play Store, scored 19 million downloads \|url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/apps_android_malware/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005173850/www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/apps_android_malware/ \|archive-date=2025-10-05 \|website=The Register}}</ref>		*F-Droid mentions that play store verification is proven to be ineffective at combating malware due to repeated instances of malware distributed through play store<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Arntz \|first=Pieter \|date=2025-09-17 \|title=224 malicious apps removed from the Google Play Store after ad fraud campaign discovered \|url=https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/09/224-malicious-apps-removed-from-the-google-play-store-after-ad-fraud-campaign-discovered \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005173848/www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/09/224-malicious-apps-removed-from-the-google-play-store-after-ad-fraud-campaign-discovered \|archive-date=2025-10-05 \|website=malwarebytes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Thompson \|first=Lain \|date=2025-08-26 \|title=Malware-ridden apps made it into Google's Play Store, scored 19 million downloads \|url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/apps_android_malware/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005173850/www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/apps_android_malware/ \|archive-date=2025-10-05 \|website=The Register}}</ref>
	*Jean-Héon points out that mandatory developer registration puts users at risk by pushing them to use dangerous workarounds to install unverified APKs of their choice. It also puts developers at risk by exposing them to data leaks and identity theft. Jean-Héon advocates for a solution based on the device's antivirus software. <ref>{{Cite web \|title= \|url=https://sites.google.com/view/jean-honmctm/communiqu%C3%A9press-releases/keep-android-open-english}}</ref>		*Jean-Héon points out that mandatory developer registration puts users at risk by pushing them to use dangerous workarounds to install unverified APKs of their choice. It also puts developers at risk by exposing them to data leaks and identity theft. Jean-Héon advocates for a solution based on the device's antivirus software. <ref>{{Cite web \|title=Google restricts the installation of third-party APKs on Android: what this means for Jean-Héon™. (Updated March 21, 2026). \|url=https://sites.google.com/view/jean-honmctm/communiqu%C3%A9press-releases/keep-android-open-english}}</ref>

	===Open source community impact===		===Open source community impact===

SJH111: Add Jean-Héon source about Privacy and safety concerns

2026-03-22T04:34:31Z

Add Jean-Héon source about Privacy and safety concerns

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:34, 22 March 2026
Line 134:		Line 134:
	*Open source developers fear harassment and doxxing after forced identity disclosure		*Open source developers fear harassment and doxxing after forced identity disclosure
	*F-Droid mentions that play store verification is proven to be ineffective at combating malware due to repeated instances of malware distributed through play store<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Arntz \|first=Pieter \|date=2025-09-17 \|title=224 malicious apps removed from the Google Play Store after ad fraud campaign discovered \|url=https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/09/224-malicious-apps-removed-from-the-google-play-store-after-ad-fraud-campaign-discovered \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005173848/www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/09/224-malicious-apps-removed-from-the-google-play-store-after-ad-fraud-campaign-discovered \|archive-date=2025-10-05 \|website=malwarebytes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Thompson \|first=Lain \|date=2025-08-26 \|title=Malware-ridden apps made it into Google's Play Store, scored 19 million downloads \|url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/apps_android_malware/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005173850/www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/apps_android_malware/ \|archive-date=2025-10-05 \|website=The Register}}</ref>		*F-Droid mentions that play store verification is proven to be ineffective at combating malware due to repeated instances of malware distributed through play store<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Arntz \|first=Pieter \|date=2025-09-17 \|title=224 malicious apps removed from the Google Play Store after ad fraud campaign discovered \|url=https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/09/224-malicious-apps-removed-from-the-google-play-store-after-ad-fraud-campaign-discovered \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005173848/www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/09/224-malicious-apps-removed-from-the-google-play-store-after-ad-fraud-campaign-discovered \|archive-date=2025-10-05 \|website=malwarebytes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Thompson \|first=Lain \|date=2025-08-26 \|title=Malware-ridden apps made it into Google's Play Store, scored 19 million downloads \|url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/apps_android_malware/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005173850/www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/apps_android_malware/ \|archive-date=2025-10-05 \|website=The Register}}</ref>
			*Jean-Héon points out that mandatory developer registration puts users at risk by pushing them to use dangerous workarounds to install unverified APKs of their choice. It also puts developers at risk by exposing them to data leaks and identity theft. Jean-Héon advocates for a solution based on the device's antivirus software. <ref>{{Cite web \|title= \|url=https://sites.google.com/view/jean-honmctm/communiqu%C3%A9press-releases/keep-android-open-english}}</ref>

	===Open source community impact===		===Open source community impact===

103.27.10.71: /* Advanced flow */ more info

2026-03-20T12:50:41Z

Advanced flow: more info

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:50, 20 March 2026
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	On 4 March 2026, as part of changes following Google vs. Epic store Lawsuit, Google announced that it is allowing registered app stores to be published on google play platform if they "meet certain quality and safety benchmarks", which would otherwise be subject to same restrictions as those for other 'sideloaded' app.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Samat \|first=Sameer \|date=4 Mar 2026 \|title=A new era for choice and openness \|url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/a-new-era-for-choice-and-openness.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260305062940/android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/a-new-era-for-choice-and-openness.html \|archive-date=5 Mar 2026}}</ref> Notably as part of the settlement, Epic games signed away its rights to sue Google over anything related as covered in the term sheet, until September 2032.<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Hollister \|first=Sean \|date=5 Mar 2026 \|title=Tim Sweeney signed away his right to criticize Google’s app store until 2032 \|url=https://www.theverge.com/news/889595/tim-sweeney-signed-away-his-right-to-criticize-google-until-2032 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260305000517/www.theverge.com/news/889595/tim-sweeney-signed-away-his-right-to-criticize-google-until-2032 \|archive-date=5 Mar 2026}}</ref>		On 4 March 2026, as part of changes following Google vs. Epic store Lawsuit, Google announced that it is allowing registered app stores to be published on google play platform if they "meet certain quality and safety benchmarks", which would otherwise be subject to same restrictions as those for other 'sideloaded' app.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Samat \|first=Sameer \|date=4 Mar 2026 \|title=A new era for choice and openness \|url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/a-new-era-for-choice-and-openness.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260305062940/android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/a-new-era-for-choice-and-openness.html \|archive-date=5 Mar 2026}}</ref> Notably as part of the settlement, Epic games signed away its rights to sue Google over anything related as covered in the term sheet, until September 2032.<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Hollister \|first=Sean \|date=5 Mar 2026 \|title=Tim Sweeney signed away his right to criticize Google’s app store until 2032 \|url=https://www.theverge.com/news/889595/tim-sweeney-signed-away-his-right-to-criticize-google-until-2032 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260305000517/www.theverge.com/news/889595/tim-sweeney-signed-away-his-right-to-criticize-google-until-2032 \|archive-date=5 Mar 2026}}</ref>

	=== Advanced flow ===		===Advanced flow===
	On 19 March 2026, Google finally revealed how its advanced flow program for installing unverified apps is being implemented. ~~Clarifying~~ that this is a one-time process for power users, but was crafted to prevent coerced install of unverified apps.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Forsythe \|first=Matthew \|date=19 Mar 2026 \|title=Android developer verification: Balancing openness and choice with safety \|url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/android-developer-verification.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260319202706/android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/android-developer-verification.html \|archive-date=19 March 2026}}</ref>		On 19 March 2026, Google finally revealed how its advanced flow program for installing unverified apps is being implemented. Google mentions that this is a one-time process for power users, but was crafted to prevent coerced install of unverified apps.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Forsythe \|first=Matthew \|date=19 Mar 2026 \|title=Android developer verification: Balancing openness and choice with safety \|url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/android-developer-verification.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260319202706/android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/android-developer-verification.html \|archive-date=19 March 2026}}</ref>

	* '''Enable developer mode in system settings'''		*'''Enable developer mode in system settings'''
	* '''Confirm you aren't being coached'''		*'''Confirm you aren't being coached'''
	* '''Restart your phone and reauthenticate'''		*'''Restart your phone and reauthenticate'''
	* '''Come back after the protective waiting period and verify''' '''-''' One-time, one-day wait		*'''Come back after the protective waiting period and verify''' '''-''' One-time, one-day wait
	* '''Install apps''' '''-''' option of enabling for 7 days or indefinitely		*'''Install apps''' '''-''' option of enabling for 7 days or indefinitely

	~~Whether developer mode need~~ to ~~be left on after enabling unverified apps~~, ~~potentially preventing~~ critical banking apps from functioning ~~is not clarified~~.		Since advanced flow is delivered through Google Play Services and not through Android OS, Google can modify, restrict, or remove it at any time without an OS update and without any user consent. Organizations such as keep android open movement continue to hold the position against the program because of this aspect. Since the implementation has not appeared in dev, beta or canary builds of android yet, Google is prompting the community to accept a product announcement as a functional safeguard five months before the mandate takes effect.

			Preventing critical banking apps from functioning due to enabled state of developer mode also makes installing unverified applications unfeasible to many users which majorly affects the rapidly growing FOSS android community and forces developer verification as well as payment of verification fee to Google, only to operate under limitations Google grants.

	==Technical implementation==		==Technical implementation==

103.27.10.78: Undo revision 44186 by 188.236.230.240 (talk)

2026-03-20T05:06:04Z

Undo revision 44186 by 188.236.230.240 (talk)

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:06, 20 March 2026
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			{{IncidentCargo
			\|Company=Google
			\|StartDate=2025-08-25
			\|EndDate=d89e2e8dc28a93bcdc3984265466242a4493fbaf
			\|Status=Active
			\|ProductLine=Google-certified Android devices
			\|Product=Android
			\|ArticleType=Service
			\|Type=Anticompetitive Behavior, Digital restrictions, Privacy
			\|Description=A planned restriction that forces developers to submit their identity to Google and pay a fee for their apps to be installable onto Android devices.
			}}
			On August 25th, 2025, [[Google]] announced an upcoming application installation restriction on Google-certified [[Android]] devices, requiring '''all''' developers to register and verify their real-life identity through the Developer Verification program and be approved by Google before their apps can be installed on Android devices. This requirement extends to '''''all''''' installation methods including "[[sideloading]]", third-party app repositories like [[F-Droid]], and direct APK installations. Google stated that this change "keeps the ecosystem open".<ref>{{Cite web \|last= \|date=Aug 2025 \|title=Elevating Android's security to keep it open and safe \|url=https://developer.android.com/developer-verification \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250825180832/https://developer.android.com/developer-verification \|archive-date=2025-08-25 \|website=Android Developers}}</ref>

			This is a giant shift from Android's traditionally open ecosystem and an abandonment of Android's founding principles.<ref>https://source.android.com/about/philosophy.html ([http://web.archive.org/web/20140621023054/http://source.android.com/about/philosophy.html Archive]) Philosophy and Goals \| Android Open Source] (2012) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20140621023054/http://source.android.com/about/philosophy.html Archived])</ref> It renders all existing APK files created throughout the years useless, and gives Google the ability to censor apps they dislike, such as those that can create permanent local backups of YouTube videos outside of Google's ecosystem with no [[data lock-in]] (a popular example being TubeMate), and lets them terminate developers out of spite for reasons unrelated to their apps (such as holding political views Google disagrees with), in addition to giving governments the ability to order Google to censor unwanted apps, similar to what already happened with Apple in China.<ref>[https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/apple-censoring-its-app-store-china Apple Is Censoring its App Store for China] - Tech Transparency Projects ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251124220615/https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/apple-censoring-its-app-store-china Archived])</ref>

			It also prevents new Android applications from being developed offline with no Internet connection or Google account, given that every package name has to be registered in the developer console. This can prevent even verified developers from creating apps in countries where governments intermittently turn off Internet access, block access to Google services, or selectively block individuals from accessing the Internet.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/30/middleeast/iran-internet-blackout-censorship-intl The future of Iran’s internet connectivity is still bleak, even as weeks-long blackout begins to lift \| CNN] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260223025239/https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/30/middleeast/iran-internet-blackout-censorship-intl Archived])</ref>

			Individuals who lose access to their Google accounts (for example, as a result of losing an authentication factor) would no longer be able register new applications.<ref>[https://karl-voit.at/cloud/ You Can't Control Your Data in the Cloud] - Karl Voit ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260202071758/https://karl-voit.at/cloud/ Archived])</ref> Unlimited offline distribution can also become a thing of the past. Google can impose arbitrary installation quotas, meaning limit the number of installations, like they are planning to do with [[#Limited_distribution\|student accounts]]. In the future, Google can also stop accepting submissions for older Android versions altogether, forcing people to purchase new devices to run software that could technically run on their existing device.

			As with any Google service, there exists a possibility that it will shut down entirely, given that Google has a long history of launching and shutting down experimental services.<ref>[https://gcemetery.co/ The Google Cemetery - Dead Google products] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260221111719/https://gcemetery.co/ Archived])</ref><ref>[https://killedbygoogle.com/ Google Graveyard - Killed by Google] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260221152454/https://killedbygoogle.com/ Archived])</ref> If Google shut down the Android Developer Console, no one could develop new Android application anymore, for any device sold with this verification requirement built in.

	==Take action, make our voice heard==		==Take action, make our voice heard==
	Direct link to the useful resources provided by the [https://techlore.tech Techlore] https://keepandroidopen.org/		Direct link to the useful resources provided by the [https://techlore.tech Techlore] https://keepandroidopen.org/

103.27.10.78: /* Updates */ Google's Advanced flow finally published

2026-03-19T21:07:20Z

Updates: Google's Advanced flow finally published

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:07, 19 March 2026
Line 47:		Line 47:

	On 4 March 2026, as part of changes following Google vs. Epic store Lawsuit, Google announced that it is allowing registered app stores to be published on google play platform if they "meet certain quality and safety benchmarks", which would otherwise be subject to same restrictions as those for other 'sideloaded' app.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Samat \|first=Sameer \|date=4 Mar 2026 \|title=A new era for choice and openness \|url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/a-new-era-for-choice-and-openness.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260305062940/android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/a-new-era-for-choice-and-openness.html \|archive-date=5 Mar 2026}}</ref> Notably as part of the settlement, Epic games signed away its rights to sue Google over anything related as covered in the term sheet, until September 2032.<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Hollister \|first=Sean \|date=5 Mar 2026 \|title=Tim Sweeney signed away his right to criticize Google’s app store until 2032 \|url=https://www.theverge.com/news/889595/tim-sweeney-signed-away-his-right-to-criticize-google-until-2032 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260305000517/www.theverge.com/news/889595/tim-sweeney-signed-away-his-right-to-criticize-google-until-2032 \|archive-date=5 Mar 2026}}</ref>		On 4 March 2026, as part of changes following Google vs. Epic store Lawsuit, Google announced that it is allowing registered app stores to be published on google play platform if they "meet certain quality and safety benchmarks", which would otherwise be subject to same restrictions as those for other 'sideloaded' app.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Samat \|first=Sameer \|date=4 Mar 2026 \|title=A new era for choice and openness \|url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/a-new-era-for-choice-and-openness.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260305062940/android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/a-new-era-for-choice-and-openness.html \|archive-date=5 Mar 2026}}</ref> Notably as part of the settlement, Epic games signed away its rights to sue Google over anything related as covered in the term sheet, until September 2032.<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Hollister \|first=Sean \|date=5 Mar 2026 \|title=Tim Sweeney signed away his right to criticize Google’s app store until 2032 \|url=https://www.theverge.com/news/889595/tim-sweeney-signed-away-his-right-to-criticize-google-until-2032 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260305000517/www.theverge.com/news/889595/tim-sweeney-signed-away-his-right-to-criticize-google-until-2032 \|archive-date=5 Mar 2026}}</ref>

			=== Advanced flow ===
			On 19 March 2026, Google finally revealed how its advanced flow program for installing unverified apps is being implemented. Clarifying that this is a one-time process for power users, but was crafted to prevent coerced install of unverified apps.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Forsythe \|first=Matthew \|date=19 Mar 2026 \|title=Android developer verification: Balancing openness and choice with safety \|url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/android-developer-verification.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260319202706/android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/android-developer-verification.html \|archive-date=19 March 2026}}</ref>

			* '''Enable developer mode in system settings'''
			* '''Confirm you aren't being coached'''
			* '''Restart your phone and reauthenticate'''
			* '''Come back after the protective waiting period and verify''' '''-''' One-time, one-day wait
			* '''Install apps''' '''-''' option of enabling for 7 days or indefinitely

			Whether developer mode need to be left on after enabling unverified apps, potentially preventing critical banking apps from functioning is not clarified.

	==Technical implementation==		==Technical implementation==

188.236.230.240: Fixed typo

2026-03-17T08:10:01Z

Fixed typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:10, 17 March 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~{{IncidentCargo~~
	~~\|Company=Google~~
	~~\|StartDate=2025-08-25~~
	~~\|EndDate=d89e2e8dc28a93bcdc3984265466242a4493fbaf~~
	~~\|Status=Active~~
	~~\|ProductLine=Google-certified Android devices~~
	~~\|Product=Android~~
	~~\|ArticleType=Service~~
	~~\|Type=Anticompetitive Behavior, Digital restrictions, Privacy~~
	~~\|Description=A planned restriction that forces developers to submit their identity to Google and pay a fee for their apps to be installable onto Android devices.~~
	}}
	On August 25th, 2025, [[Google]] announced an upcoming application installation restriction on Google-certified [[Android]] devices, requiring '''all''' developers to register and verify their real-life identity through the Developer Verification program and be approved by Google before their apps can be installed on Android devices. This requirement extends to '''''all''''' installation methods including "[[sideloading]]", third-party app repositories like [[F-Droid]], and direct APK installations. Google stated that this change "keeps the ecosystem open".<ref>{{Cite web \|last= \|date=Aug 2025 \|title=Elevating Android's security to keep it open and safe \|url=https://developer.android.com/developer-verification \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250825180832/https://developer.android.com/developer-verification \|archive-date=2025-08-25 \|website=Android Developers}}</ref>

	This is a giant shift from Android's traditionally open ecosystem and an abandonment of Android's founding principles.<ref>https://source.android.com/about/philosophy.html ([http://web.archive.org/web/20140621023054/http://source.android.com/about/philosophy.html Archive]) Philosophy and Goals \| Android Open Source] (2012) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20140621023054/http://source.android.com/about/philosophy.html Archived])</ref> It renders all existing APK files created throughout the years useless, and gives Google the ability to censor apps they dislike, such as those that can create permanent local backups of YouTube videos outside of Google's ecosystem with no [[data lock-in]] (a popular example being TubeMate), and lets them terminate developers out of spite for reasons unrelated to their apps (such as holding political views Google disagrees with), in addition to giving governments the ability to order Google to censor unwanted apps, similar to what already happened with Apple in China.<ref>[https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/apple-censoring-its-app-store-china Apple Is Censoring its App Store for China] - Tech Transparency Projects ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251124220615/https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/apple-censoring-its-app-store-china Archived])</ref>

	It also prevents new Android applications from being developed offline with no Internet connection or Google account, given that every package name has to be registered in the developer console. This can prevent even verified developers from creating apps in countries where governments intermittently turn off Internet access, block access to Google services, or selectively block individuals from accessing the Internet.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/30/middleeast/iran-internet-blackout-censorship-intl The future of Iran’s internet connectivity is still bleak, even as weeks-long blackout begins to lift \| CNN] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260223025239/https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/30/middleeast/iran-internet-blackout-censorship-intl Archived])</ref>

	Individuals who lose access to their Google accounts (for example, as a result of losing an authentication factor) would no longer be able register new applications.<ref>[https://karl-voit.at/cloud/ You Can't Control Your Data in the Cloud] - Karl Voit ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260202071758/https://karl-voit.at/cloud/ Archived])</ref> Unlimited offline distribution can also become a thing of the past. Google can impose arbitrary installation quotas, meaning limit the number of installations, like they are planning to do with [[#Limited_distribution\|student accounts]]. In the future, Google can also stop accepting submissions for older Android versions altogether, forcing people to purchase new devices to run software that could technically run on their existing device.

	As with any Google service, there exists a possibility that it will shut down entirely, given that Google has a long history of launching and shutting down experimental services.<ref>[https://gcemetery.co/ The Google Cemetery - Dead Google products] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260221111719/https://gcemetery.co/ Archived])</ref><ref>[https://killedbygoogle.com/ Google Graveyard - Killed by Google] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260221152454/https://killedbygoogle.com/ Archived])</ref> If Google shut down the Android Developer Console, no one could develop new Android application anymore, for any device sold with this verification requirement built in.

	==Take action, make our voice heard==		==Take action, make our voice heard==
	Direct link to the useful resources provided by the [https://techlore.tech Techlore] https://keepandroidopen.org/		Direct link to the useful resources provided by the [https://techlore.tech Techlore] https://keepandroidopen.org/

Rudxain: add "Forced account" to "See also"

2026-03-16T07:03:52Z

add "Forced account" to "See also"

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:03, 16 March 2026
Line 196:		Line 196:

	==See also==		==See also==
			*[[Forced account]]
	*[[Digital Markets Act]]		*[[Digital Markets Act]]
	*[[Sideloading]]		*[[Sideloading]]

49.237.17.8 at 11:50, 13 March 2026

2026-03-13T11:50:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:50, 13 March 2026
Line 2:		Line 2:
	\|Company=Google		\|Company=Google
	\|StartDate=2025-08-25		\|StartDate=2025-08-25
	\|EndDate=		\|EndDate=d89e2e8dc28a93bcdc3984265466242a4493fbaf
	\|Status=Active		\|Status=Active
	\|ProductLine=Google-certified Android devices		\|ProductLine=Google-certified Android devices

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:10, 17 March 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~{{IncidentCargo~~
	~~\|Company=Google~~
	~~\|StartDate=2025-08-25~~
	~~\|EndDate=d89e2e8dc28a93bcdc3984265466242a4493fbaf~~
	~~\|Status=Active~~
	~~\|ProductLine=Google-certified Android devices~~
	~~\|Product=Android~~
	~~\|ArticleType=Service~~
	~~\|Type=Anticompetitive Behavior, Digital restrictions, Privacy~~
	~~\|Description=A planned restriction that forces developers to submit their identity to Google and pay a fee for their apps to be installable onto Android devices.~~
	}}
	On August 25th, 2025, [[Google]] announced an upcoming application installation restriction on Google-certified [[Android]] devices, requiring '''all''' developers to register and verify their real-life identity through the Developer Verification program and be approved by Google before their apps can be installed on Android devices. This requirement extends to '''''all''''' installation methods including "[[sideloading]]", third-party app repositories like [[F-Droid]], and direct APK installations. Google stated that this change "keeps the ecosystem open".<ref>{{Cite web \|last= \|date=Aug 2025 \|title=Elevating Android's security to keep it open and safe \|url=https://developer.android.com/developer-verification \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250825180832/https://developer.android.com/developer-verification \|archive-date=2025-08-25 \|website=Android Developers}}</ref>

	This is a giant shift from Android's traditionally open ecosystem and an abandonment of Android's founding principles.<ref>https://source.android.com/about/philosophy.html ([http://web.archive.org/web/20140621023054/http://source.android.com/about/philosophy.html Archive]) Philosophy and Goals \| Android Open Source] (2012) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20140621023054/http://source.android.com/about/philosophy.html Archived])</ref> It renders all existing APK files created throughout the years useless, and gives Google the ability to censor apps they dislike, such as those that can create permanent local backups of YouTube videos outside of Google's ecosystem with no [[data lock-in]] (a popular example being TubeMate), and lets them terminate developers out of spite for reasons unrelated to their apps (such as holding political views Google disagrees with), in addition to giving governments the ability to order Google to censor unwanted apps, similar to what already happened with Apple in China.<ref>[https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/apple-censoring-its-app-store-china Apple Is Censoring its App Store for China] - Tech Transparency Projects ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251124220615/https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/apple-censoring-its-app-store-china Archived])</ref>

	It also prevents new Android applications from being developed offline with no Internet connection or Google account, given that every package name has to be registered in the developer console. This can prevent even verified developers from creating apps in countries where governments intermittently turn off Internet access, block access to Google services, or selectively block individuals from accessing the Internet.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/30/middleeast/iran-internet-blackout-censorship-intl The future of Iran’s internet connectivity is still bleak, even as weeks-long blackout begins to lift \| CNN] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260223025239/https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/30/middleeast/iran-internet-blackout-censorship-intl Archived])</ref>

	Individuals who lose access to their Google accounts (for example, as a result of losing an authentication factor) would no longer be able register new applications.<ref>[https://karl-voit.at/cloud/ You Can't Control Your Data in the Cloud] - Karl Voit ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260202071758/https://karl-voit.at/cloud/ Archived])</ref> Unlimited offline distribution can also become a thing of the past. Google can impose arbitrary installation quotas, meaning limit the number of installations, like they are planning to do with [[#Limited_distribution\|student accounts]]. In the future, Google can also stop accepting submissions for older Android versions altogether, forcing people to purchase new devices to run software that could technically run on their existing device.

	As with any Google service, there exists a possibility that it will shut down entirely, given that Google has a long history of launching and shutting down experimental services.<ref>[https://gcemetery.co/ The Google Cemetery - Dead Google products] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260221111719/https://gcemetery.co/ Archived])</ref><ref>[https://killedbygoogle.com/ Google Graveyard - Killed by Google] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260221152454/https://killedbygoogle.com/ Archived])</ref> If Google shut down the Android Developer Console, no one could develop new Android application anymore, for any device sold with this verification requirement built in.

	==Take action, make our voice heard==		==Take action, make our voice heard==
	Direct link to the useful resources provided by the [https://techlore.tech Techlore] https://keepandroidopen.org/		Direct link to the useful resources provided by the [https://techlore.tech Techlore] https://keepandroidopen.org/