Google announced that as of September 2026, it will no longer be possible to develop apps for the Android platform without first registering centrally with Google. This registration will involve:
- Paying a fee to Google
- Agreeing to Google’s Terms and Conditions
- Providing government identification
- Uploading evidence of the developer’s private signing key
- Listing all current and future application identifiers
What's the opinion of the EU about this? IIRC they ruled that Apple has to permit apps from sources outside their monopoly app store?
I don't know.
I hope they will see how google is just laughing at them now with such rules and take appropriate measures, but it seems this topic doesn't really get the noise it deserves.
@project1enigma That's the problem. They allow you to do it but they still charge you their developer/platform fee. So Google is trying to pull off the exact same bullshit.
Sure, but how many people don't use non-stock/verified android?
The problem arises when open-source ecosystems like fdroid die out or dry up because developers quit building apps because they can't distribute them anymore.
This is *will* damage open source android apps, and it will affect those without sideloading restrictions too.
jbz
lia
Felix
always tired
Radomír Žemlička