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Android developer verification: Early access starts

android-developers.googleblog.com

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Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#41

Post by rrix2 »

geoffschmidt wrote: post #6
Aachen wrote: post #4

Edit: be sure to read geoffschmidt's reply below /edit The buried lede: > a dedicated account type for students and hobbyists. This will allow you to distribute your creations to a limited number of devices without going through the full verification So a natural limit on how big a hobby project can get. The example they give, where verification would require scammers to burn an identity to build another app instead…

But see also the next section ("empowering experienced users"): > We are building a new advanced flow that allows experienced users to accept the risks of installing software that isn't verified

it's probably just gonna be under the Developer Options "secret" menu

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#42

Post by ajkjk »

themafia wrote: post #3

> Keeping users safe on Android is our top priority. I highly doubt this is your "top" priority. Or if it is then you're gotten there by completely ignoring Google account security. > intercepts the victim's notifications And who controls these notifications and forces application developers to use a specific service? > bad actors can spin up new harmful apps instantly. Like banking applications that use push or SMS…

this is an absurd rant. they invest, like, billions into security. It's not as perfect as you want it to be but "completely ignoring" is a joke. if you've got actual grievances you should say what they are so that we can actually get on your side instead of rolling our eyes

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#43

Post by tadfisher »

BrenBarn wrote: post #23

The key question for me is whether this "advanced flow" will allow the practical use of entirely separate app stores (like F-Droid) or if they're going to throw up tons of barriers for every individual app install.

There's a second path, whereby F-Droid registers as an "alternative app store", which is a new category of app created in the fallout of Epic Games v. Google [0]. This is interesting because it applies to all regions and will necessarily need more elevated permissions than the typical REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES permission used today. No idea what requirements Google will impose on such apps.

[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Games_v._Google

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#44

Post by AndrewDavis »

BrenBarn wrote: post #23

The key question for me is whether this "advanced flow" will allow the practical use of entirely separate app stores (like F-Droid) or if they're going to throw up tons of barriers for every individual app install.

It all depends on how the flow is implemented.

If it's a one time unlock, eg like developer mode then hopefully it'll just work.

If it's a big long flow per install... Yikes, that's not much better than adb install

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#45

Post by Aurornis »

Lammy wrote: post #17
svat wrote: post #7

From the very first announcement of this, Google has hinted that they were doing this under pressure from the governments in a few countries. (I don't remember the URL of the first announcement, but https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/08/elevating-... is from 2025-August-25 and mentions “These requirements go into effect in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand”.) The “Why verification is important” s…

Google have their own reasons too. They would love to kill off YouTube ReVanced and other haxx0red clients that give features for free which Google would rather sell you on subscription. Just look at everything they've done to break yt-dlp over and over again. In fact their newest countermeasure is a frontpage story right beside this one: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45898407

You’re still proving the point above, which is ignoring the fact that the restriction is specifically targeted at a small number of countries. Google is also rolling out processes for advanced users to install apps. It’s all in the linked post (which apparently isn’t being read by the people injecting their own assumptions)

Google is not rolling this out to protect against YouTube ReVanced but only in a small number of countries. That’s an illogical conclusion to draw from the facts.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#46

Post by Aurornis »

tomrod wrote: post #36
svat wrote: post #7

From the very first announcement of this, Google has hinted that they were doing this under pressure from the governments in a few countries. (I don't remember the URL of the first announcement, but https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/08/elevating-... is from 2025-August-25 and mentions “These requirements go into effect in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand”.) The “Why verification is important” s…

I bought the hardware, therefore I have the right to modify and repair. Natural right, full stop. That right ends are your nose, as the saying goes.

> Natural right, full stop.

You’re still missing the point the comment is making: In countries where governments are dead set on holding Google accountable for what users do on their phones, it doesn’t matter what you believe to be your natural right. The governments of these countries have made declarations about who is accountable and Google has no intention of leaving the door open for that accountability.

You can do whatever you want with the hardware you buy, but don’t confuse that with forcing another company to give you all of the tools to do anything you want easily.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#47

Post by Aurornis »

metadat wrote: post #31
geoffschmidt wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But see also the next section ("empowering experienced users"): > We are building a new advanced flow that allows experienced users to accept the risks of installing software that isn't verified

So.. all this drama over an alert(yes/no) box? Wow, this really pulls back the veil. This Vendor (google) is only looking out for numero uno.

> So.. all this drama over an alert(yes/no) box?

The angry social media narratives have been running wild from people who insert their own assumptions into what’s happening.

It’s been fairly clear from the start that this wasn’t the end of sideloading, period. However that doesn’t get as many clicks and shares as writing a headline claiming that Google is taking away your rights.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#49

Post by shirro »

BrenBarn wrote: post #24
themafia wrote: post #3

> Keeping users safe on Android is our top priority. I highly doubt this is your "top" priority. Or if it is then you're gotten there by completely ignoring Google account security. > intercepts the victim's notifications And who controls these notifications and forces application developers to use a specific service? > bad actors can spin up new harmful apps instantly. Like banking applications that use push or SMS…

Their top priority is making money.

Making money and complying with the law. They are obligated to do both. In many countries laws are still enforced.

Protecting their app store revenues from competition exposes them to scrutiny from competition regulators and might be counter productive.

Many governments are moving towards requiring tech companies to enforce verification of users and limit access to some types of software and services or impose conditions requiring software to limit certain features such as end to end encryption. Some prominent people in big tech believe very strongly in a surveillance state and we are seeing a lot of buy in across the political spectrum, possibly due to industry lobbying efforts. Allowing people to install unapproved software limits the effectiveness of surveillance technologies and the revenues of those selling them. If legal compliance risks are pushing this then it is a job for voters, not Google to fix.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#50

Post by gumby271 »

andrepd wrote: post #27
BrenBarn wrote: post #23

The key question for me is whether this "advanced flow" will allow the practical use of entirely separate app stores (like F-Droid) or if they're going to throw up tons of barriers for every individual app install.

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the EU digital markets act mandate this?

Isn't Apple technically complying with this even while forcing notarization? Seems like Google could get away with the same scheme.
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