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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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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#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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Mandate stands in solidarity with the school secretaries and caretakers represented by Fórsa as they commence indefinite strike action today, Thursday, 28th August. This strike arises from the ongoing denial of access to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme for secretaries and caretakers—despite the fact that they work in the same schools, under the same […]
Absolutely massive crowd of school secretaries and caretakers.
All they want is to be treated equally - to get pensions, sick pay and bereavement leave.
Support the workers. Contact your TDs to demand the government concedes and drop by pickets to support.
🇬🇧 Stop #DataRetention 2.0! ⚠️ The EU is planning radical mass surveillance.
Your voice matters: 📣 Participate in the EU consultation by Sep 12.
Defend your fundamental rights in 5 mins with EDRi's cheatsheet: 🛡️
https://edri.org/our-work/public-consultation-on-retention-of-data-by-service-providers-for-criminal-proceedings-answering-guide-for-civil-society-organisations-and-individuals/
The European Commission has launched a public consultation to gather your views about the impact of data retention rules.
Bart Busschots
Fedilab Apps
Die Linke
Paul Murphy TD
Patrick Breyer
Dublin Linux Community