Google Says Developer Verification Makes Android Safer. Critics Say It Just Makes Android More Closed - No Last Name Needed

>Amidst all the chaos in the world, some significant moves are being orchestrated that could potentially have detrimental effects on people’s privacy and right to choose. Google’s Developer Verification program falls under the latter. > >Starting September 2026 (in certain regions), any app installed on a certified Android device will need to come from a developer who has gone through Google’s new verification process. This applies regardless of where the app comes from: the Play Store, a third-party storefront, or a direct APK download. > >To get verified, developers must register through a dedicated Android Developer Console and provide their legal name, address, email address, and phone number. In some cases, they will also need to upload a government-issued ID.