The open letter we signed asks Google to:

1. Rescind the mandatory registration
2. Engage transparently on security improvements that respect Android's openness
3. Commit to platform neutrality

Privacy should be easy for users and developers alike! https://keepandroidopen.org/open-letter/

Google has a history of proposing mechanisms that expand its control over users and developers. Manifest V2 deprecation, the AMP Project and Privacy Sandbox are just a few recent examples.

We opposed each of these proposals and we oppose this developer registry as well.

Mandatory developer registration is a serious privacy risk.

A single corporation would create a database of extensive information on every person who writes Android software.

This could cause creators of privacy-preserving apps to leave Android.

Android is an open platform that lets users install apps outside Google Play. For example, they can download Brave via F-Droid to avoid Google's restrictions and tracking.

However, by forcing developers to register, Google makes itself the gatekeeper. https://brave.com/blog/keep-android-open/

Starting September 2026, Android app devs must register with Google and upload government-issued ID, even if they don't use the Google Play Store.

This decision undermines Android's user-first ecosystem, presents massive privacy risks, and deepens Google’s surveillance economy.