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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

#171

Post by advisedwang »

Aurornis wrote: post #47
metadat wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I don't think this section is actually the same as the present state just with a new alert box.

I suspect they mean you have to create a android developer account and sign the binaries, this new policy just allows you to proceed without completing the identity verification on that account.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#172

Post by advisedwang »

xyzzy_plugh wrote: post #127

> we are building a new advanced flow that allows experienced users to accept the risks of installing software that isn't verified. We are designing this flow specifically to resist coercion, ensuring that users aren't tricked into bypassing these safety checks while under pressure from a scammer. It will also include clear warnings to ensure users fully understand the risks involved, but ultimately, it puts the choi…

Does this allow unsigned binaries like today? Or is this now requiring you have a binary signed by a android developer account but just one without full identity verification.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#173

Post by advisedwang »

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?

EU digital markets mandates that you can install apps through f-droid... but doesn't mandate that those apps don't to comply with Google's signing policy.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#174

Post by JulianHC »

thisislife2 wrote: post #88
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 don't buy this argument at all that this specific implementation is under pressure from the government - if the problem is indeed malware getting access to personal data, then the very obvious solution is to ensure that such personal data is not accessible by apps in the first place! Why should apps have access to a user's SMS / RCS? (Yeah, I know it makes onboarding / verification easy and all, if an app can acces…

I concur.

If they are concerned about malware then one of the obvious solutions would be safe guarding their play store. There is significant less scam on iphone because apple polices their app store. Meanwhile scam apps that i reported are still up on google play store.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#175

Post by WorldPeas »

bilekas wrote: post #117

Imagine you could do with your hardware what you wanted. Brave. Innovative. Revolutionary. /Old man laughing at "cloud" that is my baremetal.

I worry that the overton window has shifted so much after over a decade and a half of most downloads being mediated by "app stores" that most people don't realize or have the means to vocalize or understand what they're missing.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#176

Post by miki123211 »

Zak wrote: post #101
svat wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can easily believe that Google's YouTube team would love to kill off such apps, if they can make a significant (say ≥1%) impact on revenue. (After all, being able to make money from views is an actual part of the YouTube product features that they promise to “creators”, which would be undermined if they made it too easy to circumvent.) But having seen how things work at large companies including Google, I find it l…

I would like a world where buying something means you get final say over how it operates even if you might do something dangerous/harmful/illegal.

I would like a world where I have the final say over whether I should have a final say.

One way to achieve this is to only allow sideloading in "developer mode", which could only be activated from the setup / onboarding screen. That way, power users who know they'll want to sideload could still sideload. The rest could enjoy the benefits of an ecosystem where somebody more competent than their 80-year-old nontechnical self can worry about cybersecurity.

Another way to do this would be to enforce a 48-hour cooldown on enabling sideloading, perhaps waived if enabled within 48 hrs of device setup. This would be enough time for most people to literally "cool off" and realize they're being scammed, while not much of an obstacle for power users.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#177

Post by vachina »

brazukadev wrote: post #72
Aurornis wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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…

That's deflection, there's Google blocking users from installing apps and there's OP insinuating that it might be because of governments coercion but there's no evidence to support this. Scammers pay Google to show ads to install apps, that's what the governments are holding Google responsible and it won't change with blocking installing apps.

Malicious app delivery goes beyond Google ads. In Singapore, most scam app installs are from social engineering, e.g. install new app to receive payment, install new app to buy something for cheap.

I’m amazed at how gullible some people are but that’s how it is.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#179

Post by WorldPeas »

999900000999 wrote: post #100

Ahh yes,the slow boiling continues. So if I want to release a free android game my options are. A: Hope Google doesn't change course again. B: Give Google a copy of my apartment lease, Would be too hard for them to ya know actually implement sandboxing which would prevent this. Anything aside from full bootloader access means I'm renting my device. Too late now though.

I still remember when I could give my friends an exe of the stupid little games I made, worry free.

I guess that makes me a cybercriminal, doesn't it.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#180

Post by ankit219 »

Google is about to find out the next step of this chain - give access to everyone, don't gatekeep / do checks, and yet take responsibility for anything that goes wrong.

"You should open up the tool, put no restrictions, and yet ensure that it is safe and secure" is an impossible task for anyone.

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