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submitted 3 days ago by limerod@reddthat.com to c/android@lemdro.id
  1. Does this mean sideloading is going away on Android?

Absolutely not. Sideloading is fundamental to Android and it is not going away. Our new developer identity requirements are designed to protect users and developers from bad actors, not to limit choice. We want to make sure that if you download an app, it’s truly from the developer it claims to be published from, regardless of where you get the app. Verified developers will have the same freedom to distribute their apps directly to users through sideloading or through any app store they prefer.

  1. Making APKs available to your test team

If your team’s current test process relies on distributing APKs to testers for installation using methods other than adb, you will need to verify your identity and register the package. This also applies if you make APKs available to your test teams through Google Play Internal Testing, Firebase App Distribution, or similar solutions through other distribution partners.

  1. Do I still need to register my apps if I’m only distributing to a limited number of users?

We recommend you register. It's a simple, one-time process that will allow anyone to download and install your app. However, if you prefer not to, we are also introducing a free developer account type that will allow teachers, students, and hobbyists to distribute apps to a limited number of devices without needing to provide a government ID.

  1. What can I do to prepare for developer verification?

The best way to get ready and stay updated is to sign up for early access. We’ll start sending invitations in October.

We recommend you participate in developer verification because, even though verification is not required to develop apps with Android Studio, you will need it to distribute apps to certified Android devices. Apps installed through enterprise management tools on managed devices will also be installable without being registered.

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[-] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 0 points 23 hours ago

"Does this mean you no longer have freedom of speech?"

"Absolutely not. Our new "protest permit" requirements simply means only authorized protests are permitted, everyone else go to the Gulag"

[-] LordCrom@lemmy.world 16 points 2 days ago

After this initiative, it will be real easy for google to identify the ones who build those "track ICE" apps and others that the powers that be may not be happy with.

[-] limerod@reddthat.com 8 points 2 days ago

Yeah, this is most infuriating thing about this. Other countries could compel any apps they deem bad and ask for identification.

[-] dessalines@lemmy.ml 27 points 3 days ago

As a developer of 4 FOSS android apps (both on f-droid and the play store): Does anyone know if there's an existing campaign by other devs to oppose this, and boycott the play store until they cave? I'd be happy to participate.

[-] Dirk@lemmy.ml 91 points 3 days ago
  1. Does this mean sideloading is going away on Android?

No, but we have to approve it.

FTFY.

[-] ook@discuss.tchncs.de 35 points 3 days ago

Yeah, fuck that noise. They know exactly that this is the problem.

[-] BakedCatboy@lemmy.ml 25 points 3 days ago

Or alternatively:

  1. Does this mean unverified sideloading is going away on Android?

Yes

[-] joyjoy@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 days ago

I'm hearing this as:

every single apk you make needs to be registered with google so users devices can "phone home" to verify the app signature.

Talk about privacy.

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[-] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 25 points 3 days ago

Google can go fuck themselves. I've at least started looking at Ubuntu Touch and potentially going to virtualize it and see how it works. I hope the accessibility is alright though because I rely on magnification and a screen reader to use my device. So I'm going to cross my fingers.

If most app developers comply and I can't get apps on lineage or graphene anymore, and Linux isn't accessible on mobile, I will just have to abandon mobile entirely and go back to my Linux laptop.

[-] pulsewidth@lemmy.world 41 points 3 days ago
  1. Does this mean sideloading is going away on Android?

Absolutely not. Your sideloaded app will simply refuse to run if the developer has not verified themselves with Google. This will cause any older app that is no longer updated to fail, as well as any apps by developers whom dislike Google's repeated monopolistic behaviour, and opt-out of the program. In short, most apps currently sideloaded will no longer be able to. We call this 'sideload rightsizing'. We will also be keeping users safe by suing the developers of apps we don't like, such as Grayjay, FreeTube, NewPipe, Shizuku, and Magisk - this will be much easier with their government IDs showing their legal names and addresses.

Ftfy Google.

[-] Amir@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 days ago

Isn't the Magisk dev working at Google now? Would be funny if they sued him

[-] pulsewidth@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

I haven't used Magisk in some time, admittedly wasn't aware of this. However I see that since he was hired, Magisk seems to no longer have a goal of bypassing SafetyNet or obfuscating itself. Any issue logged about bypassing it or failures using banking apps, etc simply get automatically closed on the GitHub issue registry. So while Magisk still aims to give root and manage access to it, it no longer touches anything related to hiding root access or obfuscating itself from detection since topjohnwu went to work for Google..

So yeah he's not gonna get sued, he has been bought.

I could be wrong though, this is only 20 mins of research, so take it with a grain of salt.

[-] dosse91@lemmy.trippy.pizza 12 points 2 days ago

I will not register any of my applications with this fascist garbage, I'd rather deprecate them and stop developing on android altogether.

[-] limerod@reddthat.com 71 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

After all that outcry. They only wrote about devs demanding longer. Conveniently ignoring fdroid's post among others.

Even for hobby projects you would be required to create a limited developer account and submit government identification if you want to distribute apps to a larger audience.

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[-] enbiousenvy@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 points 2 days ago

hopefully this will cause more hand support & financial support towards linux phone

[-] 0_o7@lemmy.dbzer0.com 51 points 3 days ago

Getting off with just a wrist slap on their monopoly trial has embolden them. They think they're untouchable now. I wouldn't be surprised they have a backroom deal with the feds too.

[-] artyom@piefed.social 14 points 3 days ago

Given the current corrupt and invulnerable administration, absolutely.

[-] FutileRecipe@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago

It's the whole "if a fine is less than the profit, the fine is just considered a cost of business."

[-] dontbelievethis@sh.itjust.works 43 points 3 days ago
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[-] kokesh@lemmy.world 32 points 3 days ago

Fuck you, Google.

[-] Netrics@lemmy.ca 21 points 3 days ago

All I heard was is "COMPLY". Yeah, no thanks. I will keep my shades on.

[-] Cassa@lemmy.blahaj.zone 46 points 3 days ago

"security" my ass

[-] redti@lemmy.zip 12 points 3 days ago

Because we love developers we want them free to not complying to big corp Google spyware. Please devs love the users back and don't comply!

[-] cmgvd3lw@discuss.tchncs.de 28 points 3 days ago

If this is adopted, soon github would require your SSN for writing hello world.

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[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 17 points 3 days ago

This doesn't fix anything

The problem is Google gate keeping the platform.

[-] ABetterTomorrow@sh.itjust.works 8 points 3 days ago

Let’s talk security:

  1. No smart phones
  2. profit
[-] limerod@reddthat.com 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

In today's digital age its not doable. You need a smartphone if you work, get medical assistance, access social media, do online payments.

Now, if you mentioned using an alternative OS like Linux we can agree.

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[-] ALERT@sh.itjust.works 15 points 3 days ago

how does one start repressions and censorship? by saying "it's for your own safety"

[-] surjomukhi@lemmygrad.ml 19 points 3 days ago

How about let me know if the apk is from a verified publisher or show me "unknown publisher" and let me decide do i put it into my device.

[-] LiveLM@lemmy.zip 12 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

It's for your safety! No choice! Only safety!!

[-] curbstickle@anarchist.nexus 15 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

You could do what I did and let them know via feedback that you'll be leaving for Apple since its the same thing now.

I won't actually be going to apple, but to a linuxphone, but saying Apple is probably going to have more impact so I went with that.

Edit: This is feedback to them linked in that page.

If you have a dev account, I recommend using it to give them feedback.

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[-] urheber@discuss.tchncs.de 20 points 3 days ago
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this post was submitted on 01 Oct 2025
125 points (96.3% liked)

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