Amidst all the chaos in the world, some significant moves are being orchestrated that could potentially have detrimental effects on people’s privacy and right to choose. Google’s Developer Verification program falls under the latter.
Starting September 2026 (in certain regions), any app installed on a certified Android device will need to come from a developer who has gone through Google’s new verification process. This applies regardless of where the app comes from: the Play Store, a third-party storefront, or a direct APK download.
To get verified, developers must register through a dedicated Android Developer Console and provide their legal name, address, email address, and phone number. In some cases, they will also need to upload a government-issued ID.
Android developer verification requirements survey ↗.
I will literally go back to a dumb flip-phone and definitely Linux phones are starting to look more appealing
Critics say?
It’s literally what it does. Just say what it does.
For those that wish to advocate:
Pure gaslighting by a multi-billion dollar company that’s responsible for distributing the vast majority of Android malware installed on Android. If Google wanted to make Android safer they’d make a concerted effort to stop distributing malware through the Play store.
Thankfully, many of the apps I use every day have said that they will refuse to do this.
I am also now more seriously than ever looking into Linux phones such as PostmarketOS. Sure, for now, it’s going to be Google certified devices only. But what’s to keep Google from attempting to put this into AOSP in a couple of versions from now?
I feel like if it gets put in AOSP it will still be possible to remove since it’s open source. My biggest concern is just not having any new hardware available to even run the alternatives. There are already few devices that still have unlockable bootloaders, and Googles own device are some of the most prominent ones. And with OS level age verification laws popping up everywhere there’s even more incentive for manufacturers to lock the bootloader
You can only be safe if you’re in our prison.
