TheTearMiserGoogle is requiring mandatory developer verification for all Android apps in 2026
JackbyDevI thought they just rolled this back?
As far as I’m aware, there’s only the advanced flow thing that is mentioned in this post?
If that’s the only solution, I wouldn’t call that “rolling back.”
For a while they were completely removing the ability to install unsigned apps altogether. So continuing to allow it albeit with more steps is indeed stepping back somewhat from what their plans were.
Rolling back usually means to revert it fully.
The advanced flow (which includes a 24hr wait time) is not rolling back and I wouldn’t call it stepping back either. It’s obviously designed to kedp friction high so thst no one even bothers with freedom and privacy protecting apps that dont want to or can’t go through googles verification process.
This isn’t what you think it is… it’s barely conceding when the friction remains this high.
Once per device you will need to wait 24 hours before installing unauthorized apps. That’s all the new restrictions do. It will basically not affect power users at all.
For scammers, the 24 hour waiting period completely breaks their scams. They won’t be able to trick people into installing malware if they have to call back to resume the scam the next day. Google said that was their goal and their new solution actually does this without impeding power users.
Google found the balance that we were asking them for, yet people won’t stop complaining and even lying about it in posts like this. Maybe that energy is why the users won this time, but either way, take that energy and fight any of the thousands of real fights.
That is all true, however it seems like a slippery slope to me.
To stop scams, it would instead be a good idea to block app installation (of ANY apps including in the Play Store) when the screen is being monitored or a call is active.
Then when sideloading apps, grey out the install button for 3 seconds to hopefully pull the user out of any mindless flow state a scammer has put them in.
Or we stop babyproofing the world for fools. Imagine a car that only ran gas from approved gas stations because someone was caught inhaling unapproved gas when someone else told them it would heal their sickness.