Google plans to begin verifying the identity of all developers who distribute apps on Android, even if it's outside the Play Store, starting September 2026
Discussion
We've been expecting this.
So they will block installation of off store apks or what?
The link says, βThe requirement goes into effect in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. At this point, any app installed on a certified device in these regions must be registered by a verified developer.β
And then by 2027 they want it globally
Gay and retarded
Your internet will be permissioned.
Unless you fight back...
I've been thinking about this. This might literally kill android. While android vastly more popular that IOs on third world countries, apple is dominant to the most profitable ones. One for the strong points for android is that there are apps for everything because people can just code and build. But if now you require approval 100% of the time, might as well build for iOS. Right?
I think "for certified devices" is the key there. If you unlock / de-certify / graphene should be OK. Problem is high trust apps like banking apps will immediately demand certified only
GrapheneOS isn't a Google certified OS and some banking apps already block running on operating systems that aren't. The Play Integrity API allows an app developer to do this.
Yet they will run in a web browser.. banks are so retarded with their security theatre
Maybe keep a crummy little iphone se or cheap android on wifi only, for just those times you need to touch filthy fiat? Keep it in a faraday bag otherwise?
I'd say first see if the bank offers a hardware tokens to do banking trough a website. Mine has that and I use that. If not, thats plan B.
Can devs vibe code around it?
Unfortunately, not for Googleβs stock Android.
It affects the reach of apps still
π³οΈβπ?
not good eh nostr:nprofile1qqstnr0dfn4w5grepk7t8sc5qp5jqzwnf3lejf7zs6p44xdhfqd9cgspzpmhxue69uhkummnw3ezumt0d5hszrnhwden5te0dehhxtnvdakz7qgawaehxw309ahx7um5wghxy6t5vdhkjmn9wgh8xmmrd9skctcnv0md0?
This is a disaster. I already had no reason to buy a new android phone and now I certainly don't. I am not interested in buying into a locked ecosystem.
sooo horrible
They are going for this in chrome as well, with "attestation" I think they call it.
To verify that the browser is as they want it to be, website owners will then be able to block users with unverified browsers π€‘πΊ