Fedilab Apps
@apps@toot.fedilab.app  ·  activity timestamp 3 days ago
#Google is making it necessary for #Android app developers to disclose their personal information to Google. This includes legal name, address, email, and phone number.¹

Here is the timeline given by Google.²

1. October 2025
Start as invite-only

2. March 2026
All developers can disclose their identity to Google

3. September 2026
"Regional enforcement begins" in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand

4. 2027 and beyond
"Global enforcement"

We will explain more in next posts.

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Fedilab Apps
@apps@toot.fedilab.app replied  ·  activity timestamp 3 days ago

A "certified Android device" means a normal Android phone. If you haven't flashed a custom ROM or a different operating system like postmarketOS to your phone, you probably have a "certified Android device".

So, if you have a normal Android phone, you will not be able to install apps from developers who are not approved by Google. This gives Google power to block developers and apps it does not like.

This also applies to apps you might acquire outside Google Play, like from F-Droid.³

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Fedilab Apps
@apps@toot.fedilab.app replied  ·  activity timestamp 3 days ago

Not only this harms your freedom to install any app you want on your own Android phone, but also this is harmful for privacy/anonymity of Android developers who do not wish to give their personal information to Google.

Sources:

¹ https://www.androidauthority.com/android-developer-verification-requirements-3590911/

² https://developer.android.com/developer-verification/guides

³ https://hackaday.com/2025/08/26/google-will-require-developer-verification-even-for-sideloading/

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