Το κινητό σου σύντομα δεν θα σου ανήκει πια.
Από τον Σεπτέμβριο του 2026, μια αθόρυβη αναβάθμιση, που θα εγκαταστήσει η Google χωρίς συναίνεση, θα μπλοκάρει κάθε εφαρμογή Android της οποίας ο προγραμματιστής δεν έχει εγγραφεί στην Google, δεν έχει υπογράψει το συμβόλαιο της, δεν έχει πληρώσει και δεν έχει παραδώσει κρατικό έγγραφο ταυτοπροσωπίας.
Κάθε εφαρμογή και κάθε συσκευή, παγκοσμίως, χωρίς δυνατότητα άρνησης.
↓Τι κάνει η Google
Τον Αύγουστο του 2025, η Google ανακοίνωσε μία νέα προϋπόθεση: Από τον Σεπτέμβριο του 2026, κάθε προγραμματιστής εφαρμογών Android θα πρέπει να εγγραφεί κεντρικά στη Google προτού το λογισμικό του μπορέσει να εγκατασταθεί σε οποιαδήποτε συσκευή. Όχι μόνο εφαρμογές του Play Store: Όλες οι εφαρμογές. Αυτό περιλαμβάνει εφαρμογές που μοιράζονται φίλοι μεταξύ τους, εφαρμογές που διανέμονται μέσω του F-Droid, εφαρμογές φτιαγμένες από ερασιτέχνες για προσωπική χρήση. Ανεξάρτητοι προγραμματιστές, θρησκευτικές και κοινωνικές ομάδες, καθώς και ερασιτέχνες, θα στερηθούν τη δυνατότητα να αναπτύσσουν και να διανέμουν το λογισμικό τους.
Η εγγραφή προϋποθέτει:
- Πληρωμή χρέωσης στην Google
- Συμφωνία με τους Όρους και Προϋποθέσεις της Google
- Παράδοση κρατικού εγγράφου ταυτοπροσωπίας
- Παροχή αποδείξης για το ιδιωτικό κλειδί ψηφιακών υπογραφών
- Απαρίθμηση όλων τον τωρινών και μελλοντικών αναγνωριστικών της εφαρμογής
Αν ένας προγραμματιστής δεν συμμορφωθεί, οι εφαρμογές του μπλοκάρονται αθόρυβα σε όλες τις συσκευές Android παγκοσμίως.
Ποιοί βλάπτονται
Εσύ
Αγόρασες ένα τηλέφωνο Android επειδή η Google σου είπε ότι ήταν ανοιχτό. Μπορούσες να εγκαταστήσεις ό,τι ήθελες, και αυτή ήταν η συμφωνία
Η Google τώρα αλλάζει αυτή τη συμφωνία, αναδρομικά, σε συσκευές που ήδη σου ανήκουν. Μετά την ενημέρωση, θα μπορείς να τρέξεις μόνο λογισμικό που η Google έχει προεγκρίνει. Στο τηλέφωνο σου: Την ιδιοκτησία σου, για την οποία εσύ πλήρωσες.
Ανεξάρτητοι προγραμματιστές
Η πρώτη εφαρμογή ενός εφήβου, το εργαλείο ιδιωτικότητας που έγραψε ένας εθελοντής, ή η εμπιστευτική εσωτερική έκδοση beta μιας εταιρείας. Δεν έχει σημασία ποιο. Μετά τον Σεπτέμβριο του 2026, κανένα από αυτά δε θα μπορεί να εγκατασταθεί χωρίς την «ευλογία» της Google.
Το F-Droid, πηγή για χιλιάδες δωρεάν εφαρμογές Android ανοιχτού κώδικα, έχει αποκαλέσει αυτό το γεγονός ως «υπαρξιακή» απειλή. Ο Cory Doctorow το αποκαλεί "Darth Android".
Κυβερνήσεις και η Κοινωνία των Πολιτών
Η Google έχει αποδεδειγμένο ιστορικό συμμόρφωσης όταν αυταρχικά καθεστώτα απαιτούν την κατάργηση εφαρμογών. Με αυτό το πρόγραμμα, το λογισμικό που υποστηρίζει τις κρατικές υπηρεσίες της χώρας σου θα εξαρτάται από τη βούληση μιας και μόνο ξένης εταιρείας που δεν λογοδοτεί σε κανέναν.
Το EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) χαρακτηρίζει τον έλεγχο πρόσβασης στις εφαρμογές ως «έναν συνεχώς διευρυνόμενο δρόμο προς τη λογοκρισία στο διαδίκτυο».
Η «έξοδος διαφυγής» που προσφέρει η Google είναι μία παγίδα.
Η Google αναφέρει ότι «προχωρημένοι χρήστες» μπορούν «ακόμα να εγκαταστήσουν» μη επαληθευμένες εφαρμογές. Δείτε πώς θα γίνεται αυτό στην πραγματικότητα:
- Άνοιξε τις Ρυθμίσεις, βρες τις «Επιλογές προγραμματιστή»
- Πάτα πάνω στον «Αριθμό Κατασκευής» επτά φορές για να ενεργοποιήσεις τη Λειτουργία Προγραμματιστή
- Αγνόησε τις κινδυνολόγες προειδοποιήσεις περί εξαναγκασμού
- Πληκτρολόγησε το PIN σου
- Κάνε επανεκκίνηση της συσκευής
- Περίμενε 24 ώρες
- Επίστρεψε, αγνόησε ακόμα περισσότερα μηνύματα με κινδυνολογία
- Επίλεξε «Να επιτρέπεται προσωρινά» (7 ημέρες) ή «Να επιτρέπεται πάντα»
- Επιβεβαίωσε, για μία ακόμη φορα, ότι κατανοείς «τους κινδύνους»
Εννέα βήματα. Μία υποχρεωτική περίοδος αναμονής 24 ωρών. Για να εγκαταστήσεις λογισμικό σε μία συσκευή που σου ανήκει
Ακόμη χειρότερα: Αυτή η διαδικασία τρέχει αποκλειστικά μέσω των Υπηρεσιών Google Play, όχι μέσω του λειτουργικού συστήματος Android. Η Google μπορεί να την αλλάξει, να την περιορίσει, ή να την αφαιρέσει ανά πάσα στιγμή, χωρίς να χρειαστεί κάποια ενημέρωση λογισμικού ή έγκριση από τον χρήστη. Και μέχρι σήμερα, δεν έχει κυκλοφορήσει σε καμία έκδοση beta, preview ή canary. Υπάρχει μόνο ως ανάρτηση σε blog και μερικά mockups.
Αυτό είναι μεγαλύτερο από το Android
Αν η Google μπορεί να «κλειδώσει» αναδρομικά δισεκατομμύρια συσκευές που πουλήθηκαν ως ανοιχτές πλατφόρμες, κάθε παραγωγός hardware στον πλανήτη παρακολουθεί.
Η αρχή που καθιερώνεται είναι η εξής: η εταιρεία που κατασκεύασε τη συσκευή σου έχει το δικαίωμα να αποφασίζει, αφού την αγοράσεις, ποιο λογισμικό επιτρέπεται να χρησιμοποιείς. Στον κόσμο του λογισμικού, αυτό ονομάζεται «rug pull» - αλλά τουλάχιστον σε αυτή την περίπτωση μπορούσες πάντα να εγκαταστήσεις ανταγωνιστικό λογισμικό. Στον κόσμο του hardware, πρόκειται για ένα τετελεσμένο γεγονός που σου στερεί κάθε δυνατότητα επιλογής και σε καθιστά ανίσχυρο απέναντι στις ιδιοτροπίες ενός και μοναδικού, μη υπόλογου «φρουρού» και νομικά διαπιστωμένου μονοπωλητή.
Η «ανοιχτή φύση» του Android δεν ήταν ποτέ απλώς ένα χαρακτηριστικό του. Ήταν η υπόσχεση που το καθιστούσε διαφορετικό από το iPhone. Εκατομμύρια χρήστες επέλεξαν το Android ακριβώς για αυτόν τον λόγο. Η Google τώρα ανακαλεί μονομερώς αυτή την υπόσχεση, σε συσκευές που βρίσκονται ήδη στην κατοχή των χρηστών, επειδή αποφάσισε ότι έχει αρκετή κυριαρχία στην αγορά και επιρροή στους ρυθμιστικούς φορείς ώστε να τη γλιτώσει.
Ars Technica: «Ο φθόνος της Google για την Apple απειλεί να καταστρέψει την παράδοση της ανοιχτής πλατφόρμας του Android.»
Μισό λεπτό, μήπως αυτό...
«...έχει να κάνει απλώς με την ασφάλεια;»
Το επιχείρημα της ασφάλειας είναι παραπλανητικό. Το Google Play Protect ήδη ελέγχει για κακόβουλο λογισμικό ανεξάρτητα από την ταυτότητα του προγραμματιστή. Η απαίτηση κρατικής ταυτότητας δεν κάνει τον κώδικα πιο ασφαλή. Κάνει τους προγραμματιστές αναγνωρίσιμους και ελεγχόμενους. Οι δημιουργοί κακόβουλου λογισμικού μπορούν να εγγραφούν. Οι ανεξάρτητοι προγραμματιστές και οι διαφωνούντες συχνά δεν μπορούν. Το EFF είναι κατηγορηματικό: Ο έλεγχος πρόσβασης βάσει ταυτότητας είναι ένα εργαλείο λογοκρισίας, όχι ασφάλειας.
«...συνεχίζει να επιτρέπει το sideloading εάν χρησιμοποιήσεις την προχωρημένη μέθοδο;»
Εννέα βήματα, αναμονή 24 ωρών, κρυμμένα στις Επιλογές Προγραμματιστή, παρεχόμενα μέσω μίας ιδιόκτητης υπηρεσίας που η Google μπορεί να ανακαλέσει όποτε θέλει. Αυτό δεν είναι «sideloading». Είναι ένας μηχανισμός αποτροπής που έχει σχεδιαστεί για να διασφαλίζει ότι σχεδόν κανείς δεν θα τον ολοκληρώσει. Και δεδομένου ότι λειτουργεί μέσω των Play Services και όχι μέσω του λειτουργικού συστήματος, η Google μπορεί να τον περιορίσει ή να τον καταργήσει αθόρυβα.
«...αποτελεί πρόβλημα μόνο αν έχεις να κρύψεις κάτι;»
Οι πληροφοριοδότες, οι δημοσιογράφοι και οι ακτιβιστές που ζουν υπό αυταρχικά καθεστώτα θα είναι τα πρώτα θύματα. Ακολουθούν τα άτομα που βιώνουν ενδοοικογενειακή βία. Όλες αυτές οι ομάδες έχουν βάσιμους λόγους να διανέμουν ή να χρησιμοποιούν λογισμικό χωρίς να καταχωρίζουν τα πραγματικά τους στοιχεία σε μια βάση δεδομένων της Google. Η ανώνυμη συνεισφορά στον ανοιχτό κώδικα είναι μια παράδοση παλαιότερη από την ίδια τη Google. Αυτή η πολιτική, τερματίζει αυτή την παράδοση στο Android.
«...είναι το ίδιο πράγμα που κάνει και η Apple;»
Η Apple ήταν εξαρχής ένα «κλειστό» οικοσύστημα. Ο κόσμος επέλεξε το Android επειδή ήταν διαφορετικό. Η δικαιολογία του «και η Apple το κάνει» αποτελεί ισοπέδωση προς τα κάτω και ένα αδύναμο λογικό επιχείρημα τύπου tu quoque. Και υπό την πίεση των ρυθμιστικών αρχών (ο Νόμος για τις Ψηφιακές Αγορές της ΕΕ), ακόμη και η Apple αναγκάζεται να ανοίξει το οικοσύστημά της. Η Google κινείται προς την αντίθετη κατεύθυνση: προσπαθεί να εδραιώσει περαιτέρω τη θέση της ως «φρουρός».
«...κοστίζει μόνο 25 δολλάρια και εμπεριέχει απλώς λίγη χαρτούρα;
Ίσως, αν είσαι προγραμματιστής στις ΗΠΑ και διαθέτεις πιστωτική κάρτα και άδεια οδήγησης. Προσπάθησε να μπεις στη θέση ενός φοιτητή στην υποσαχάρια Αφρική, ή ενός αντιφρονούντα στη Μιανμάρ, ή ενός εθελοντή που συντηρεί μια εφαρμογή για την υγεία της κοινότητας. Το κόστος δεν είναι μόνο οικονομικό: παραδίδεις την ταυτότητα που σου έχει εκδώσει η κυβέρνηση και τα αποδεικτικά στοιχεία των κλειδιών υπογραφής σου σε μια εταιρεία που συμμορφώνεται συστηματικά με τις απαιτήσεις κυβερνήσεων να αφαιρέσει εφαρμογές και να εκθέσει προγραμματιστές.
Αντιστάσου
Όλοι
- Εγκατάστησε το F-Droid σε κάθε συσκευή Android σου. Τα εναλλακτικά καταστήματα εφαρμογών μπορούν να επιβιώσουν μόνο αν υπάρχουν άνθρωποι που τα χρησιμοποιούν.
- Επικοινώνησε με τις ρυθμιστικές αρχές της χώρας σου. Οι ρυθμιστικές αρχές σε όλο τον κόσμο εκφράζουν πραγματική ανησυχία για τα μονοπώλια και τη συγκέντρωση εξουσίας στον τομέα της τεχνολογίας και επιθυμούν να ακούσουν απευθείας τις απόψεις των ατόμων που επηρεάζονται και ανησυχούν.
- Μοιράσου αυτή τη σελίδα. Βάλε συνδέσμους προς το keepandroidopen.org παντού.
- Αντιστάσου στους ψευτο-ακτιβιστές. Οι «ναι μεν, αλλά...» πληθαίνουν. Μην τους αφήσεις να καθορίσουν την αφήγηση.
- Υπόγραψε την αίτηση στο change.org και γίνε ένας από τους 100.000 και πλέον υπογράφοντες που έκαναν τη φωνή τους να ακουστεί.
- Διάβασε και υπόγραψε την ανοιχτή επιστολή μας
- Πες στην Google την άποψη σου επί του ζητήματος μέσω της επίσημής της έρευνας σχετικά με την επαλήθευση προγραμματιστών(όσο λίγο κι ας μπορεί να βοηθήσει αυτό).
Προγραμματιστές
Μην εγγραφείς. Μην μπεις στο πρόγραμμα κάνοντας εγγραφή στην Κονσόλα Προγραμματιστών Android και μην αποδεχτείς τους αμετάκλητους Όρους και Προϋποθέσεις τους. Μην επαληθεύσεις την ταυτότητά σου. Μη μπεις στο χορό.
Το σχέδιο της Google δουλεύει μόνο εάν οι προγραμματιστές εγγραφούν. Μην το κάνεις.
- Πείσε κι άλλους προγραμματιστές και οργανισμούς να μην εγγραφούν ούτε αυτοί.
- Πρόσθεσε την βιβλιοθήκη FreeDroidWarn στις εφαρμογές σου για να προειδοποιήσεις τους χρήστες.
- Διαχειρίζεσαι μία ιστοσελίδα; Πρόσθεσε το banner αντίστροφης μέτρησης.
Εργαζόμενοι της Google
Αν γνωρίζεις κάτι σχετικά με την τεχνική υλοποίηση ή εσωτερική λογική του προγράμματος, επικοινώνησε με τη διεύθυνση tips@keepandroidopen.org από μία συσκευή εκτός του εργασιακού σου χώρου και μέσω ενός λογαριασμού που δεν είναι Gmail. Εγγυημένη απόλυτη εμπιστευτικότητα.
Ολοί οσοι αντιτίθενται…
71 οργανισμοί από 23 χώρες έχουν υπογράψει την ανοιχτή επιστολή
The Digital Rights Foundation digitalrightsfoundation.pk
Rossmann Group rossmanngroup.com
iodé iode.tech
Cryptee crypt.ee
European Digital Rights (EDRi) edri.org
OpenMedia openmedia.org
MetaBrainz Foundation metabrainz.org
The Calyx Institute calyx.org
/e/ Foundation e.foundation
GNOME Foundation gnome.org
Software Freedom Conservancy sfconservancy.org
Technopolice Bruxelles technopolice.be
Rocky Linux rockylinux.org
Digital Rights Watch digitalrightswatch.org.au
Fedimedia fedimedia.it
ARTICLE 19 article19.org
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) beuc.eu
Brave brave.com
FUTO futo.org
The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) fsfe.org
Proton AG proton.me
Vivaldi Technologies AS vivaldi.com
La Quadrature du Net laquadrature.net
April april.org
The Chaos Computer Club (CCC) ccc.de
Italian Linux Society ils.org
Nextcloud nextcloud.com
GitHub Store github-store.org
F-Droid f-droid.org
The Center for Digital Progress (D64) d-64.org
GNU/Linux València gnulinuxvalencia.org
Fundación Karisma karisma.org.co
Associação Nacional para o Software Livre (ANSOL) ansol.org
Open Rights Group (ORG) openrightsgroup.org
Digitale Gesellschaft digitale-gesellschaft.ch
Unified Push unifiedpush.org
epicenter.works – for digital rights epicenter.works
Software Liberty Association of Taiwan slat.org.tw
FACiL facil.qc.ca
Techlore techlore.tech
CryptPad cryptpad.org
Forbrukerrådet forbrukerradet.no
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) fsf.org
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) eff.org
FOSDEM fosdem.org
FULU Foundation fulu.org
Data Rights datarights.ngo Διάβασε ολόκληρη την ανοιχτή επιστολή και ευχαρίστησε τους υπογράφοντες →
Τι λένε
Δημοσιογράφοι τεχνολογίας
"Google's New Developer Rules Threaten to End the F-Droid Open-Source App Store"
How-To Geek
"Google's new ID requirements could destroy independent app stores"
TechSpot
"Google Clamps down On Android's Openness"
Internet Freedom Foundation (India)
"Android, Epic, and What's Really Behind Google's 'Existential' Threat to F-Droid"
Slashdot
"Google's dev registration plan 'will end the F-Droid project'"
The Register
"Google's new developer rules could threaten sideloading and F-Droid's future"
Gizmochina
"Keep Android Open"
Linux Magazine
"This will wipe out Android as an actual alternative to Apple's mobile OS offerings."
Hackaday
"We all know that's a load of bullshit. Adding a goddamn 24-hour waiting period is batshit insanity."
Thom Holwerda, OSnews
"Google's Requirement For All Android Developers To Register And Be Verified Threatens To Close Down Open Source App Store F-Droid"
Techdirt
"Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store"
TechCrunch
"Google says it's making Android sideloading 'high-friction' to better warn users about potential risks"
XDA Developers
"Open letter warns mandatory registration 'threatens innovation, competition, privacy and user freedom'"
Infosecurity Magazine
"I've been an Android user for almost 15 years -- and Google's sideloading changes are pushing me back to iPhone"
Tom's Guide
"Google plans to block side-loading like Apple, declaring war on Android freedom"
Tuta Blog
"Sideloading on Android? Soon It'll Be Like a TSA Check for Apps"
Android Headlines
"Sideloading is dead for all intents and purposes. The Android you know and love is slowly disappearing."
Android Police
"Android's sideloading limits are its most anti-consumer move yet"
MakeUseOf
"Google will make you wait 24 hours to sideload Android apps"
How-To Geek
"F-Droid Says Google Is Lying About the Future of Sideloading on Android"
How-To Geek
"F-Droid project threatened by Google's new dev registration rules"
Bleeping Computer
"Google's Attack on Sideloading Will Rob Android of One of Its Best Features"
How-To Geek
"'Keep Android Open' Movement Challenges Google's Developer Verification Rule"
Open Source For U
"Android app store provider Aptoide hits Google with fresh lawsuit alleging monopoly and anticompetitive chokehold"
Benzinga
"Keep Android Open – Abwehr gegen Verbot anonymer Apps von Google"
heise online
"Google is restricting one of Android's most important features, and users are outraged"
SlashGear
"Google's Attack on Sideloading Will Rob Android of One of Its Best Features"
How-To Geek
"Google's New Developer ID Rule Could Harm F-Droid"
Reclaim The Net
"Android Security or Vendor Lock-In? Google's New Sideloading Rules Smell Fishy"
It's FOSS News
"I've been an Android user for almost 15 years -- and Google's sideloading changes are pushing me back to iPhone"
Tom's Guide
"Over 67 groups urge the company to drop ID checks for apps distributed outside Play"
The Register
"Google will require developer verification to install Android apps, including sideloading"
9to5Google
"Google will verify Android developers distributing apps outside the Play store"
The Verge
"Google's Apple envy threatens to dismantle Android's open legacy"
Ars Technica
"F-Droid Says Google Is Lying About the Future of Sideloading on Android"
How-To Geek
"Open-Source Android Apps Threatened by Google's New Policy"
Datamation
"An 'existential' threat to alternative app stores"
The New Stack
"Sideloading on Android? Soon It'll Be Like a TSA Check for Apps"
Android Headlines
"Google kneecaps indie Android devs, forces them to register"
The Register
"It effectively makes the Play Store a monopoly without actually mandating that it is a monopoly."
I-Programmer
"Google's Android developer verification program draws pushback"
InfoWorld
"F-Droid Slams Google for Misleading Users About Android's App Verification"
Android Headlines
"Open-Source Android Apps at Risk Under Google's New Decree"
TechRepublic
"F-Droid says Google's new sideloading restrictions will kill the project"
Ars Technica
"Google's developer registration 'decree' means the end for alternative app stores"
Cybernews
"Resistance to Google's Android verification grows among developers"
Techzine EU
Editorials & ανάλυση
"Although Google's claim is that this is for 'security', it does not prevent the regular practice of scammers buying up existing verified developer accounts."
Maya Posch, Hackaday
"Google is turning sideloading from a right into a permission slip, and the open-source community has until September to convince it otherwise."
Reclaim The Net
"Innovation may be the biggest casualty in all of this. This new rule erodes your right to make informed decisions about your own devices."
MakeUseOf
"Destroying F-Droid isn't some 'oops.' It's the mission. It's Google finally cutting the last remaining escape route and locking every single user inside their store."
fireborn, mataroa.blog
"Android does not just warn anymore. It enforces."
Youssef Mabrouk, Ostorlab
"The requirement extends Google's gatekeeping authority from its own Play Store to every alternative distribution channel on Android."
LLM Advocates
"This is not about protecting users. This is about control. This is about Google cutting out the last remaining artery of independence in Android."
fireborn, mataroa.blog
"Google's story that this move is motivated by security is obviously bullshit. The idea that Google can improve Android's safety by certifying developers, rather than code, is obvious bullshit."
Cory Doctorow, Pluralistic
"Centralizing the registration of all applications worldwide gives Google newfound powers to completely disable any app it wants."
Mikhail Korotaev, Nextcloud Blog
"Every additional bureaucratic hurdle reduces diversity in the software ecosystem and concentrates power in large established players."
Mikhail Korotaev, Nextcloud Blog
"This policy represents a dramatic departure from Android's decades-old tradition of openness, in which developers could build and share apps freely without first submitting to a centralized authority."
Biometric Update
"The $25 isn't the real cost. The chilling effect is. Submitting government ID to Google is a non-starter for pseudonymous contributors and privacy researchers."
Arafat Alim, DEV Community
"Android wasn't supposed to be 'safe.' It was supposed to be free."
fireborn, mataroa.blog
"Google has announced that they are altering the deal. And telling us that we should pray that they don't alter it further. Block this policy change now before they wrap their cold metal hands around our necks."
Jesse Wilson, PublicObject.com
"Sideloading, a longstanding pillar of Android's openness, is now being marginalized, placing the Android platform closer to the walled-garden approach of Apple's iOS."
Purism
"Google's move is not credibly about 'security,' but actually about consolidating power and tightening control over a formerly open ecosystem."
Techdirt
"Google's attempts to make Android 'more secure' are, in fact, increasing the risk for Android users. The more friction you introduce in the name of security, the more likely users will attempt to bypass security completely."
Ken Buckler, Enterprise Management Associates
"Developers from sanctioned countries or those without Google Play access cannot verify themselves. This creates systemic discrimination against developers based on birthplace rather than conduct."
agnostic-apollo (Termux developer), GitHub
"What student is going to upload their passport to a trillion-dollar surveillance corporation just to share their weekend project?"
fireborn, mataroa.blog
"Google isn't certifying apps, they're certifying developers. This implies that the company can somehow predict whether a developer will do something malicious in the future."
Cory Doctorow, Pluralistic
"This is a form of malicious compliance with the court orders stemming from its losses to Epic Games."
Cory Doctorow, Pluralistic
"Freedom of choice is being reframed as a 'security risk.'"
Newsfangled
"Google has announced what can only be described as a death blow to the open ecosystem that made Android. Under the guise of 'security,' Google is implementing draconian developer verification requirements."
AndroidSage
"The phone you bought and paid for is no longer really yours. Google decides which apps are allowed to be loaded on Android and which are not."
Tuta Blog
"This is not a developer account sign-up. This is comprehensive surveillance of the software development ecosystem."
PixelUnion
"Once there is no such thing as 'sideloading', there's virtually no difference between iOS and Android. I see no reason to buy Android over iOS at this point."
Thom Holwerda, OSnews
"The proposed Android Developer Verification program isn't a security update; it's a kill switch for the open ecosystem."
Hillary Keverenge, Tech-ish Kenya
"One US corporation is placing itself between every Android developer and every Android user on earth."
PixelUnion
"Google has not removed Android's openness, but it is turning openness from a default right into a conditional, attributable, and tiered capability."
MerchMindAI
"This could turn Google into the effective gatekeeper for all apps on certified Android devices."
It's FOSS News
"Android is no longer the scrappy rebel. It's just another empire tightening the drawbridge."
Newsfangled
"There is also the very real possibility that Google will leak your identity with the result that any apps with political implications could result in persecution and worse."
I-Programmer
"Android is not open anymore. It's not an alternative. It's not even trying. It's iOS with ads and spyware bolted on."
fireborn, mataroa.blog
Οργανισμοί & ανοιχτές επιστολές
"Remember: It's your phone, your data, your freedom. Don't let Google take it away."
Tuta
"Unilaterally consolidating power to approve software into the hands of a single unaccountable corporation is a threat to digital sovereignty everywhere."
Nextcloud
"Verification just confirms who's behind the app, it doesn't guarantee clean code or rule out malicious behavior."
AdGuard
"There are governments who might very much like to know the names of the developers of those applications so that they can go after them."
Electronic Frontier Foundation
"Centralised, intransparent security architectures certainly help secure monetization and the market by locking out competitors."
Nextcloud
"This invasion of privacy of developers is not just an overreach of Google's authority over Android, but also jeopardizes developer safety."
Software Freedom Conservancy
"Ultimately, Google's plan will stop you from owning your Android phone."
Tuta
"If it were to be put into effect, the developer registration decree will end the F-Droid project and other free/open source app distribution sources as we know them today."
F-Droid
"Google is turning Android into a walled garden monopoly. We must prevent it."
Osservatorio Nessuno
"Changes would impose barriers to entry for individual developers, small teams and volunteer projects by imposing fees, identity checks and terms that may not align with the principles of an open ecosystem."
Infosecurity Magazine
"Google's abusive approach to the Android operating system has only gotten worse in recent years. Software freedom is sorely lacking in the 'computers in our pockets' we call cell phones."
Free Software Foundation
"Nearly 50 organizations published an open letter opposing what they characterize as a 'kill switch for the open ecosystem.'"
Tech-ish Kenya
"This is a profound change, one that shatters the entire premise of the Android ecosystem, long regarded as the antithesis of the closed Apple ecosystem."
AdGuard
"Developers who build privacy-first browsers, encrypted messaging apps, VPNs, Tor-based software or tools for journalists and activists would be required to upload government ID to Google. These developers are unlikely to trust Google and might stop developing for Android."
Brave
"Google will cut off independent developers to Android if they do not register with Google first. This will kill independent platforms like F-Droid and severely impede FLOSS devs from creating apps for Android."
KDE
"Forcing software creators into a centralized registration scheme is as egregious as forcing writers and artists to register with a central authority."
F-Droid
"Google's developer verification policy creates a centralized database, controlled by a single corporation, containing the real-world identity of every person who writes software for Android."
Brave
"We unequivocally advise against signing up for this program, now or ever."
F-Droid Open Letter
"For developers building tools specifically designed to protect user privacy, being forced to surrender their own personal data as a precondition for distribution is deeply contradictory."
AdGuard
"Google Play itself has repeatedly hosted malware, proving that corporate gatekeeping doesn't guarantee user protection."
F-Droid
"This extends Google's gatekeeping authority beyond its own marketplace into distribution channels where it has no legitimate operational role."
Open letter, over 67 signatory organizations
"While Android used to be praised for its freedom and independence, it will become a closed shop just like Apple."
Tuta
"A centralized global registration system for Android will inevitably chill this work. Those communities are likely to drop out of developing for Android altogether."
Electronic Frontier Foundation
"A policy that forces every Android developer to hand their identity to Google, regardless of whether they use Google's services, makes Android a less-open and less-private platform."
Brave
"The European Pirate Party called for proportionate and transparent measures that ensure security without restricting innovation, limiting anonymity, or distorting competition."
European Pirate Party
"We are running out of time until Google becomes the gate-keeper of all users devices."
F-Droid
"Your Smartphone, Their Rules: How App Stores Enable Corporate-Government Censorship."
ACLU
"Android's biggest strength has always been its openness. That's what attracted developers and users in the first place."
AdGuard
"Developers who choose not to use Google's services should not be forced to register with, and submit to the judgement of, Google."
Open letter, over 67 signatory organizations
"Independent software distribution on Android will now require Google's explicit permission."
AdGuard
"When you set up a gate, you invite authorities to use it to block things they don't like. And when you build a database, you invite governments to try to get access."
Electronic Frontier Foundation
"MEP Christel Schaldemose formally questioned whether Google's mandatory central registration is compatible with the Digital Markets Act."
European Parliament
YouTubers & δημιουργοί
"Your device, their rules. The phone you bought and paid for is no longer really yours."
Tuta Blog – Blog
"This represents the last real safe place for free and open-source software in the entire mobile ecosystem. Once it's gone, it's gone. And we're going to spend the next decade trying to claw it back."
Techlore – YouTube
"Google is doing to Android what Microsoft once tried to do to the web. Embrace, extend, extinguish. Just wrapped in a shinier open-source package."
ChiefGyk3D – YouTube
"If I'm going to be trapped in a walled garden anyway, I'll take the one that's built properly."
fireborn – Blog
"This is an iPhone now. I didn't want to buy an iPhone. I use Android because it gives me freedom. If you are not going to give me freedom with my computer, then why would I buy your stuff anymore?"
Louis Rossmann – YouTube
"Google isn't testing this in the US or Europe first. They're starting in countries like Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. Why? Because these are massive growth markets where regulation is weaker. By the time regulators catch up, the damage will already be done."
ChiefGyk3D – YouTube
"Every single time a company takes away your ability to do what you want with what you bought and paid for, every single time they twist a knife, we have to point it out."
Louis Rossmann – YouTube
"Google is setting a requirement that only they can fulfill, forcing developers to go through Google and killing off thousands of apps. Countless users stranded."
Techlore – YouTube
"F-Droid is basically saying that the new Google developer registration process will likely kill the open-source app store entirely."
The Linux Experiment – YouTube
"Google has been carefully watching from the sidelines to see what exactly it is that Apple can get away with."
Linus Sebastian, LMG Clips – YouTube
"Google is removing the one key advantage Android has over iOS."
SomeOrdinaryGamers (Mutahar) – YouTube
"A world where two tech companies from the same city that dominate all of our mobile devices both require centralized developer registration is a world with one more lever for surveillance, one more checkpoint for censorship."
Techlore – YouTube
"Google decides what's safe for you, and you don't get a say."
fireborn – Blog
"That's not openness. That is control."
ChiefGyk3D – YouTube
"Developers of privacy-focused tools and emulators will have to dox themselves, making them vulnerable to government agencies or legal action."
SomeOrdinaryGamers (Mutahar) – YouTube
"Imagine Dell told you that you could no longer install any operating system other than Windows on your laptop. That's what Google is doing to your phone."
SomeOrdinaryGamers (Mutahar) – YouTube
"I'm not using the word 'phone.' I'm using the word 'computer.' This has over 8 GB of RAM, a terabyte of storage. It's a computer. And I'm also not going to be using words like 'sideload.' When you download an exe file onto your Windows computer, you've installed an application. You haven't 'sideloaded' something."
Louis Rossmann – YouTube
"Android has become what they set out to destroy."
Linus Sebastian, LMG Clips – YouTube
"The fact of the matter is, this is my device. I paid a lot of money for it. I should be able to do with it what I want."
Switched to Linux – YouTube
"When you download applications, you've simply installed an application. I don't want to use words like 'sideload.'"
SomeOrdinaryGamers (Mutahar) – YouTube
"I have really no more strong reason to not recommend you all get iPhones, because this just is pretty much an iPhone with a Google logo on it at this point."
Techlore – YouTube
"Google already can disable malware that they find on your device. It's already a built-in feature. So what is developer registration actually adding here? Is it security or control? You decide."
Techlore – YouTube
"This means you can't sideload an app from an unofficial source. But it could also be used to lock the ecosystem so we're forced to install only Google apps on approved Google OS versions."
Rob Braxman Tech – Locals
"Follow the money. Google makes money when apps are downloaded from its store. Google has completely forgotten about its earlier company motto: Don't be evil."
Tuta Blog – Blog
"Google keeps getting in as much trouble as Apple when Google is half evil and Apple is full evil. So there are probably people inside Google saying, 'Why not just go full evil?'"
Louis Rossmann – YouTube
"The widely-circulated narrative that Google already backed down from this is false. They didn't, and that misunderstanding may be the most dangerous part of the story right now."
Techlore – YouTube
"This has obvious problems for non-Google operating systems like iodeOS, LineageOS, or BraxOS. Google Android will 'check in' with Google to verify the identity of the app and to validate the operating system."
Rob Braxman Tech – Locals
Προγραμματιστές & κοινότητα
"I teach digital literacy and 99% of unsavory software I encounter on people's phones come from the Play Store or App Store. I will believe they're serious about protecting users when I see them do something about the crap ton of borderline scam apps infesting their stores."
1995ToyotaCorolla, Lemmy
"Google wants the authority of a gatekeeper without the overhead of human accountability."
afferi300rina, Hacker News
"Give me liberty or give me Symbian."
masterofn001, Lemmy
"It is a disgrace how Google has managed this situation. The promised 'advanced flow' hasn't appeared in any Android 16 or 17 betas. Google is quietly proceeding with the original lockdown."
fermigier, Hacker News
"I buy a device with my own money, which I supposedly then own, but then I need to ask some corporation permission to use it."
askonomm, Hacker News
"Any time someone puts a lock on something that belongs to you, and won't give you a key, they're not doing it for your benefit."
vord (quoting Cory Doctorow), Tildes
"Modern life practically forces you to put all your eggs into a phone controlled by one of two profit-seeking companies."
koala, Lobsters
"Android is for everyone, provided they submit to Google exclusively."
gumby271, Hacker News
"I hate this so much. More and more I get the feeling I have no control over the devices I own. My fear is that Windows will eventually follow. For security reasons of course. It's the path we're on now."
cheesyvoetjes, Reddit
"There's an entire genre of scamming where the scammers spend months building rapport with their victims before cashing out. One day is nothing."
free_bip (on the 24-hour wait defeating scammers), Hacker News
"It's not cyclic. It's a ratchet and it gets tighter and tighter."
BenjaminRi, Lobsters
"Can't come at a worse time. People are just learning to make things through vibe coding, and they're gonna want to put their own apps on their phones. And now Google says no."
Serinus, Lemmy
"Antitrust action is badly needed. It is ridiculous that I need permission from my device manufacturer to install software on hardware I own."
jim201, Hacker News
"Google now has a flag on my phone they can control remotely to keep me from accessing the apps I want."
vala, Lemmy
"The fundamental problem is that we are relying on the good graces of Google to keep Android open, despite the fact that it often runs contrary to their goals as a $4T for-profit behemoth. The 'don't be evil' days are very far behind us."
paxys, Hacker News
"This is a war on users that want to keep control of their phones and when it's done, you will not be able to escape the enshittification."
ikidd, Lemmy
"Google selling Android as both open source and open to running any software you like in order to quickly gain market share, only to break those promises after driving competing platforms out of the market is nothing more than fraud."
GeekyBear, Hacker News
"Google's plan to require developer verification would give Google and governments the ability to ban any app."
Zak, Hacker News
"The open Android I knew and loved is long gone."
girvo, Hacker News
"The war on General Purpose Computing is the death of innovation and a direct attack on digital freedom."
layfellow, Hacker News
"Years ago, I wondered how Google would try to get away with locking down Android and shutting the cage door after capturing such a large dependent user base. Now I see how they are trying to get away with it."
chaznabin, Reddit
"Brazil government app refuses to operate with developer mode on."
flykespice (developer in Brazil), Hacker News
"For 'security' -- always security with these assholes. They're just building the walls of the walled garden higher."
lynxy, Tildes
"If I go down this path, I will stop all development on Android. I implore all other developers to resist this. This will completely lock down the platform forever, there will be no going back."
BatteryMountain, Hacker News
"If Android's sandbox and permission systems actually worked, then the mere act of installing an app from an arbitrary source would be as harmless as visiting an arbitrary website."
mwcampbell, Lobsters
"All the banking and payment apps in India refuse to open if you have developer mode on."
nibbleyou (developer in India), Hacker News
"Once deployed, there's a near 100% chance of such a mechanism being used for evil."
Zak, Lemmy
"Don't beg. Don't get in a position that freedoms depend on the whims of a corporation or willingness of a government to regulate them. Build."
jzb, Lobsters
"Google's own Play Store had over 600 million malware downloads. They keep talking about 'security' but their own store is crawling with fake apps and straight up malware while actual useful stuff gets buried or rejected."
Historical-Employ129 (324 upvotes), Reddit
"They're boiling the frog -- slowly removing features until all choice is gone."
hn92726819, Hacker News
"Software gatekeeping is a threat to human rights. Just recently an app to track ICE was banned from the iOS app store even though this should clearly be protected first amendment speech."
gthing, Reddit
"Google seems to actively hate people who develop for their platforms."
hbn, Hacker News
"Social engineering is destroyed with education, not with restriction and control. Trading freedom for safety eliminates both."
survirtual, Hacker News
"If your country is ever in the crosshairs of 'American interests' and bears the brunt of its sanctions, it is possible that you cannot install apps from your fellow citizens. Your own local government, bank, and store apps."
devsda, Hacker News
"Play store is full of scam apps, F-Droid isn't, but Play Store is considered secure. It's all theatre."
gcupc, Lobsters
"Android was never actually open and now they are abandoning even the thin pretense."
Tiraon, Tildes
"We are talking about something categorically worse than vendor lock-in: Collective vendor lock-in."
anordal, Lobsters
"Requiring a government ID to distribute software. Holy shit. If you are a kid and want to create a game for your friends, you better get that birth certificate ready!"
llitz, Reddit
"This isn't just a competition between app stores; it's a struggle for choice and dignity. Your phone shouldn't be a cage carefully constructed by others, but an extension of your own will."
renshijian, Hacker News
"It took them 17 years to finally pull the cage all the way shut."
Apocryphon, Hacker News
"I still remember how in the early days of Android vs iOS discussions, the main point was 'but it's OPEN!' The word 'open' was used as a comma by Google people. It was The Thing. The Difference. Good vs Evil and all that."
jwr, Hacker News
"'Sideload' is like 'jaywalking'; seeks to stigmatize humans being human."
tejtm, Hacker News
"Signal, VPNs -- they'll have a list of everyone opting out of government-mandated backdoors."
Max-P, Lemmy
"Whatever Google is doing kind of scares me. We have a big DIY community of diabetics in Germany running tools like AndroidAPS that cannot ever be distributed through official channels."
pimeys (Type 1 diabetic, DIY medical software), Lobsters
"We need to start treating phones differently. We're entering a world where we can't choose what we run on them. Their primary purpose is to gather data on us and serve us advertising, they're engineered for addiction, yet engaging in the world is immensely difficult without one."
specproc, Hacker News
"Computing is infrastructure. Personal computers are a means of expressing agency. This is like banning people from moving furniture around their house without approval from mortgage lenders."
wervenyt, Tildes
"My Pixel 6 just broke, and after 15 years of using Android, I've finally been convinced to move to iOS. If I must live in a walled garden, I suppose I'll choose the one with nicer flowers."
yonato, Hacker News
"Google has no right to be my parent. As long as I can't reject paternalism, I don't believe for a second this is done with the well-being of scam victims as the main priority."
gspr, Lobsters
"After 15 years of professional development on Android I too am now thinking about switching my focus to something different. And it sucks."
MrDresden, Hacker News
"Some time in the future, we will look back to this era and ask ourselves what went wrong."
BenjaminRi, Lobsters
"Anyone else thinking this looks like a precursor to banning Signal and similar? 1) Put Google in control of what you can install. 2) Get Google to block it."
harry8, Hacker News
"Twice I have had to deal with Google silently disabling my drone app to the point I had to buy an older phone to perform work. When I purchase a device that works with another device, under no circumstances should I be at the mercy of any updates they make."
cbrophoto (drone professional), Reddit
"If the likes of Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and others have their way, you will not own your computer; those companies will effectively own your computers."
RUs1729, Slashdot
"Making it harder makes it harder to treat ourselves. Software like AndroidAPS is unique. It's hard to find or very expensive and inferior in the proprietary market."
pimeys (diabetic user on life-critical medical software), Lobsters
"The phrase 'sideload' is psychological propaganda we are all best off rejecting."
WaffleMonster, Slashdot
"You have no right telling me what I can and cannot run on my own devices."
MrZander, Hacker News
"I want to deploy apps on my device. They are my apps, it's my device, and I should not be required to ask for permission to do so."
fsniper, Hacker News
"You are essentially a child to them. The difference is society has decided not to step in to protect you from your abusive parents."
globular-toast, Hacker News
"They have stolen a free product and are now actively locking out the people who built it."
TheTearMiser, Lemmy
Φωνές απο τη συλλογή υπογραφών
"Sounds good on paper but will only make things way, way worse. They say the main reason they're doing this is for security since you're reportedly more likely to get a virus outside of Google Play than inside, but honestly, that'll only happen if you're irresponsible enough (you're even warned that it's at your own risk and responsibility if you decide to download something outside of GP). Again, sounds good on paper, problem is, by doing this, you'll be unable to download lots of other, virus-free software that are good or can be useful (e.g. gaming emulators or delisted apps), all because it doesn't come from an "approved developer", which would be a huge pain in the ass for millions of people, including me. In my opinion, L update. "
Mario, change.org
"We want our freedom of speech "
Mohammed, change.org
"If I purchase a device, such as a smartphone, and I am not under a contract, I should be able to alter it how I want. It is MY device. There are certain features I want to disable, certain ways I want my phone to operate. With a "walled garden" such as an Apple device, I cannot do that! That is the reason I have used Android since my first Android phone, Dell Streak 5. If Google locks things down, I'll just switch to APPLE. What's the point of keeping Android? "
Rusty, change.org
"As someone who writes and uses my own APKs to make my device even more useful to me, this lockdown would be a deal breaker for my use of the Google Android platform "
Luke, change.org
"While, I'm not an average user of an Android device, I completely understand the need for programs to be open source and to have the freedom to do whatever you would like with the device that's been bought by you. So to see Google attempt to censor a beloved part of Android for many users? I find myself quite outraged! It's not exactly protection if everyone's data is at risk of being leaked next week, and it would be all thanks to these planned restrictions! "
Marielle, change.org
"I keep memories of my life in open free apps. I can't lose all of that. Android needs to be as it has been until now. "
Javier, change.org
"I signed this petition because Android’s strength has always been openness and user choice. Increasingly strict developer verification requirements risk pushing out independent and open-source developers who don’t operate as traditional businesses. Projects distributed through alternative app marketplaces like F-Droid are often volunteer-run, privacy-respecting, and community-driven. Burdensome verification rules disproportionately affect these small developers while large corporations can easily absorb the compliance costs. Security matters — but it shouldn’t come at the expense of innovation, competition, and open ecosystems. Android users deserve real choice, and independent developers deserve fair, proportionate requirements. I’m signing to support an open Android ecosystem for everyone. "
Luis, change.org
"We will seek another way. Having only google apps would be like an iphone and why then would i keep android? will be jumping on the iphone train!! and using other phones and resources that get around the ban. privacy and diversity are important and there will always be some of us who pursue it. Apps like F-droid have been very cool and usefull. being told you can't use other non-google place store apps will cause the loss of many android phone users. "
sasha, change.org
"The life of Android is its openness. If I make an apk, I don't have to jump through hoops to install it on my device. If I install an apk from the internet, that is my choice. Verification in this regard is like requiring a government stamp on a written statement before it can be said in public: a gross overreach. I am not benefited as a consumer nor as a developer with this move, but I am harmed in every single way. "
John, change.org
"At the age of 41 I have had the blessing of watching the smartphone grow. From its infant day's, through to the Blackberry fad and into something I couldn't have imagined when I had my first "brick" cellphone. Front end center, the consumer was offered 2 brand's in the modern era of handheld devices. The giants, Apple and Android. Google's "open platform" and their freedom to develop, modify and create kept me loyal my entire life in regards to ownership of said technology. It's a great shame to hear Google is planning to end open user development, following Apple as if it's creating massive net profit loss. If followed through, I'll end my lifetime commitment to using Android and follow the path I swore not to follow... becoming an Apple ID number and forever locked in their digital cage. "
Charles, change.org
"Not only are open platforms important in general, but this effort specifically is an anticompetitive and a fraudulent attempt by Google to begin walling the garden after profiting off of the work of devs in the community and the consumers who bought their products FOR the open nature of the software and devices. The goal here is not to secure the platform, its to kill open source and privacy conscious competition to Google's corporate surveillance complex. "
Shelden, change.org
"As someone who has recenlty been looking into privacy. I hope we can limit big corporations hold on our personal lives. "
Ronald, change.org
"We all need security and FOSS apps! "
Chris, change.org
"As a regular user of Fdroid and other app stores, I want to be able to continue using my devices that I paid good money for to use the apps that I want to use! Stop this locking down of Android immediately! "
Jolene, change.org
"The possibility of one of the only features that could jumpstart and maintain rising developers ambitions and the Android community; being able to install any files into their systems getting smothered is a nightmare for anyone who has been sticking to Android themselves due to its customization (I will protect my self-made Miku UI with my life). Going against the reasons of Android's strengths WILL be a bad idea and would force the people to find lower alternatives, whether they are better or not can't be gauged when this move destroys the baseline of a free and modifiable OS. Please listen to the community that is yelling to not aim at poor Bugdroid's shins... "
Ken, change.org
"Your treason against humanity's freedom is going to be your downfall we will rise up against you sick sob's !!! "
Fu google, change.org
"It would be a catastrophic degradation for quality of human life if portable computing were to become locked behind the domineering control of platform companies such as Google. It must be stopped. "
Edward, change.org
"Without the ability to make my own choices on it I have no reason to use android. I am already tired of and furious about censorship if this goes through I will never use android again. "
Orrin, change.org
"As an Android user for years, I'm honestly outraged by what they're trying to do. This isn't protection, it's control, it's obvious. "
Ryan, change.org
"This is a grave mistake and disaster and a true display of tyrannical behavior meant to push away the rights of others under the usual suspect aka the old bs saying "to protect the children" or "to keep you safe" its all a lie and this is just another way for the 4th amendment in my country to lose even more of its value and harm other countries that dont gave as many rights as americans do. First it was collusion and social media tracking, then it was ads and personalizations, then came along biometric security such as face scan or fingerprints arent protected by 4th amendment like passwords are, then we had AI invasiveness and the loss of ownership and shifting to subscriptions and now here we are not knly can we not own digital things now we are to lose our last items the physical things we own now under control as well no longer owned but basically licensed to us as long as we arent deemed dissidants. I only can hope that if you dont change that maybe we have alternatives and keep the will to fight back. "
Avery, change.org
"This undermines user choice, Again. This will hurt countless small businesses and massively increase the barrier to entry for new bootstrapped developer startups. We don't need more gatekeeping. "
Thomas, change.org
"Save APK files!! We need emulators to test it out. And I’ve never use android before, I feel like using it for the future. Please save them!! "
Deryl, change.org
"I've used side loading a number of times in the past to load 3rd party developed apps. Not supporting this will make me seriously reconsider other phones and OS "
Richard, change.org
"This is very clearly about "Embrace, Extend, Extinguish" and Google/Alphabet cashing in on control, rather than any kind of measure for protection or security. The main appeal of Android to most users was the openness, transparency, and extensibility, and with this move, all of these are being harmed. "
Anubis, change.org
"I value Android OS as the one alternative we have to the walled garden that is the Apple and its iPhone. Android phones have always been the phones of freedom--the phones you could do anything with, the phones you could customize and tailor to your exact needs. I depend daily on open source android projects run by dedicated volunteers. I'm not a programmer by any means, but even I've written a few small custom programs to run just on my own phone, something I could never do with iOS. To have all this taken away and to make Android as much of a prison as iOS would be a massive blow to consumer freedom, consumer privacy, and, by extension, our ability to communicate freely with those whom we love. "
Daniel, change.org
"This is censorship at its core. Stop trying to destroy the open internet under the guise of safety. "
Dominic, change.org
"If Google "Walled gardens" Android, I will never buy a phone with their OS ever again. That's literally the only reason people buy Android, is because it is open not locked down like Apple. F.A.F.O. how much money you'll really lose Google. "
Brandon, change.org
"Purchasing objects means ownership. If ownership is only given to the haves, the have-nots become slaves. Google, if you are doing this of your own free will, shame on you. Governments of the world: attack evildoers directly, don't punish the populace with slavery. For one sin, all Man suffers. But we don't have to live in that slavery to sinfulness! Return hate with love! "
Jame, change.org
"Your ruining the freedom who ever to download what we wanted to do and stop limiting what we like to download from other websites or anything that is legally. "
Gabriel, change.org
"APPLE wAS GONE LONG AGO NOW WHERE WILL WE GO? "
henry, change.org
"SKYNET HAS INITIATED WWIII :( "
Daniel Alberto, change.org
"This new directive from GOOGLE is clearly an anti-consumer practice so the users would have even less control of their devices, so they can prevent people from installing better and free alternatives, all being done under the false intention of "making android more secure", as if the play store isn't riddled with malware or scams "
Olivia, change.org
"Users don't deserve the Google jail cell to shrink and encroach any further "
Ben, change.org
"Because we have no more free OS like android, so keep android open is very important, imo "
DeVaughn, change.org
"That cannot be allowed, it even attacks the freedom of all users who use Android, for years that has always been the case, therefore, making that change, It would result in a catastrophic situation for many users, including Google itself, with many losses in every sense. "
Javier, change.org
"Open Source change my life, and it's really awesome, not just for the Android ecosystem, for the tech industry in general "
abel, change.org
"Personal freedom and technology literacy are two things that allowed me to become so interested in technology in the first place around 4 years ago, and neither of those things are possible without the ability to realize what your phone is doing when installing an app, as well as the ability to look at the code of an open-source app to see how it works. It is allegedly about security, but that is a very insignificant byproduct compared to the real reason you were compelled to introduce this change that applies retroactively, server-side, and to everyone with no manual override, and you have abandoned all pretense of even saying "we're just checking for malware in more places". You aren't even lying to us anymore! You already scan all apps for malware and force all users to go through a series of checkboxes to be able to install apps from alternate sources, which is more than enough guardrails for the hypothetical person you want to protect, who is so smart to not just download but install an APK, but so dumb they install malware and don't realize. For what? So 99% of people will notice nothing different about their device while 1% of people will lose everything that they care about? No, it's not about that. You know that you are turning a perfectly guarded town into a police state. There might be less unpunished crime by the citizens, but that comes at the cost of more state-sanctioned crime from power-tripping assholes wanting to do the king's bidding. But we are waking up to this fact. And even besides these dictatorial changes made due to unregulated business practices, these people in power wanting you to censor their opponents will soon be kicked out, and you will face accountability for these actions you have taken to support the worst of the worst when you had the power to do the opposite. Reverse this proposition, and we'll turn the crosshairs to someone else for now. Actively fight against the enshitification of technology itself, either by example or encouragement, and we will welcome you, because our side is correct and improves the human condition, so it will win. "
Cameron, change.org
"When I purchase a device I have the right to own it. Otherwise why pay for it. We already disclose ID and pay Google for apks. We chose android over apple only due to the freedom that used to be. If you do not back off all of us will ditch our androids and apple as we do not need more stalking in our lives. People have been creative you know. 🫥 "
S, change.org
"We as a free people in the USA should never let anybody dictate what we can put into our phones or lives. If we let that happen then when is the next person going to come to take more of our rights, it's a dangerous path to take and it shouldn't happen. If you want that to happen, go to China and live there. "
Loren, change.org
"I have Android phones for just one reason: The freedom they provided so far. Some of my main apps are side-loaded. This move of Google is a huge disappointment. It’s a terrible abuse of monopoly power. "
Andreas, change.org
"I only use android because of the freedom. This change would make android as restrictive as iPhones. "
Skyler, change.org
"Computers and modern technology was built and advanced by hobbyists who could freely develop for and modify their devices. By limiting APKs and off store software installs we are killing the innovation that built this industry. I stand with FOSS, I stand with hobbyists. "
Paul, change.org
"this will kill the freedom that android provides and will make you lose a lot of customers you're gonna lose a ton of money from this stupid change "
Jimmy, change.org
"Google, you are tearing down the very empire you built through the Android system. I hope that before 2026 you Google team resolve this, otherwise I will opt for an iPhone. "
Alan, change.org
"This it’s important to all and Google shouldn’t be doing this our company overlords can’t take more from us we need to stand up "
James, change.org
"The ability to download apps directly from developers is one of the main differentials of Android from IOS. Limiting this will severely impact the market share of Android by removing basically any reason anyone would want to use Android over IOS. "
gabriel, change.org
"Google is an evil company. "
Cool, change.org
"Android users should really be given options for how to use their devices. It's unfair that they want to limit us after having given us so much freedom. While I understand it's to protect users, this measure affects independent developers, and even worse, forcing them to use Face ID exposes their faces to potential hacking and data leaks, since this is nothing new. I really hope this reaches more people and that they sign to try to show the community's discontent. "
León 999, change.org
"Android has always been defined as the more open platform. What gets people to move away from Apple is to get away from the closed ecosystem from having direct control over their own devices. This runs contrary to Androids original mission statement and what the platform stands for. This is not what I want for my device nor my family wishes for this either. "
Logan, change.org
"Top muito bom "
Paulo, change.org
"The entier reason I left apple is because of Googles open source and user controlled devices, allowing for sideloading APKs as well as giving you ultimate say on if somthing is safe for you. Add in the new OneUI 8 that has more or less stopped users from rooting devices and we might as well just call it the "Apple Google phone" and just shut down google. Let Steve Jobs win as Google/Samsung seem to prefer. "
Jaylin, change.org
"We have the right to use our phones as we like. DON'T BREAK OUR FREEDOM "
Ferdari, change.org
"Removing a huge part of why people choose android is certainly a choice. "
Drae, change.org
"dear android, you are doing what you did to unlimited photo storage and making it limited. i have been eyeing the linux cell phone ecosystem for awhile and hope that is my option if you decide to limit and cripple the ecosystem you helped build. i have been degoogling my services like photos, drive, gmail, and calendar. if you change for the worse, i will change for the better "
michael, change.org
"I've been a loyal Android user since I took to technology. If Google goes through with this I WILL abandon everything connected to Google and go elsewhere. "
L, change.org
"This restriction simply ruins the entire premise that the android community has based itself on. It deprives users of the basic freedom that they rightfully deserve to have, since they acquired and rightfully paid for their device(s). It's another step into censorship and a monopoly under the premise of "security". The Google Play Store itself is a perpetrator of insecurity and restricting the developer base won't make it any better. If this is pushed foward, I will cease to use any android system that uses Google Play Services. "
Maria, change.org
"Open source is not a trivial matter for the regular user of technology nowadays. However, its importance should be taken seriously if we want a future where we will (still?) have access and some level of control over the technology we are too deeply dependent on for our daily activities. It is not necessary that everybody learn how to program smartphone or computer applications! But it is necessary that everybody know that it is important that big tech companies like Microsoft, Apple, Meta, and (in this specific case) Google don't close these doors. Be it for their customers or others trying to figure out what they're doing with our personal information. "
Ricardo, change.org
"That's definitely not what most people choosing Android signed up for. What is left of Android if it becomes a closed system like iOS? "
Martin, change.org
"This is one of the starting points/gates to mass surveillance. If we don't act now it will be too late when there's already multiple structures put in place enabling the next following steps intheir hold on control. "
Dhariuz, change.org
"I have the right to download apps made from developers I trust. You do not make that decision for me. Hands off! "
Danielle, change.org
"I will dtop uding Android if this is beeing implemented "
Cederick, change.org
"I am sad to see this is the way the world is going. We are slowly giving away our rights and freedom and nearly no one is noticing. Liberty dies when no one is looking "
Jacob, change.org
"Locking Android down is an evil decision and completely goes against the original design intention. If this happens, I will no longer use ANY google products and services and publicly boycott. "
Chris, change.org
"This would create a closed system like the Apple iPhone. I have an Android phone specifically because it is an open system. As well described on: https://keepandroidopen.org/ "
Joseph, change.org
"ts bullshit fr fr ive been tinkering with Android for a long long long time now and its part of the reason im even into tech so much. the sheer amount of freedom Android allows is truly amazing and so help me god if they take it away "
silly, change.org
"Keep Android open. These changes will hurt accessibility for users, like myself, who rely on open source assistive tools, and should be optional. "
D, change.org
"Let me sideload my Android apps. "
Stephan, change.org
"Take that away and you've destroyed Android. Google's trustworthiness is depths of hell low, and now you want even more control. Disgusting. The last bastion for Android was it's open freedoms compared to Apple, explicitly the ability to install apps without the store without verification. Allowing me to build and install my own creations. You must envision everyone in the entire world as some consumer archetype that just has feeding tubes of corporate sludge go into the consumers digestive tract. You can't imagine anyone innovating for fun not profit, making art and exploring science without corporate approvals. Your world is disgusting and I hate it. "
Aiden, change.org
"Spread this everywhere, we can't afford to be lazy. Also, for my fellow Aussies! You can fight against the Online Censorship Act here! https://t.co/ZqH6nemOJb and https://freespeechunion.au/esafety/ and https://endesafety.au/ please take some time to check these out! "
Sara, change.org
"The main reason I use Android products at all is for their modability. To require ID verification just invades the privacy of app developers and does absolutely nothing to protect Android users. At this point, what would make Android products any different from Apple? This is completely unacceptable; this will end up hurting more people than it does help. "
Elise, change.org
"I do not agree with Google's decision to limit my personal choices about the device I paid for. I bought my phone under the impression I was allowed to use whatever software I choose, but with these restrictions, I feel betrayed and used. I may as well stop using Android phones if it's just going to be another Apple. "
Sabrina, change.org
"Google, go rethink your choices! what is wrong with companies nowadays?!?! "
am, change.org
"We want Android as it was intended and created to be, free and for everyone, not a cheap reskin of iOS. "
TARS-, change.org
"free is the most important part of Android,no freedom no Android. "
jason, change.org
"Hands off the APK! I left Russia for Freedom in 2022 and now you trying to restrict our Freedom like a criminal Putin. "
Alex, change.org
"Google, allow us to actually own our devices! "
cornelius, change.org
"I hope Google returns to its origins. Chrome and Android are open source, just like Google and YouTube are networks accessible to everyone. Limiting this is limiting yourself. Governments can attack individuals, and if there's a monopoly by Google and Apple, you'll be the ones targeted and censored. Don't allow that! We already have restrictions on the main networks like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. New social networks are already emerging. If you limit Android, you'll be shooting yourself in the foot and opening space for competitors to take your place. "
Valberto, change.org
"The entire reason I switched to Android in the first place was the freedom that it allowed compared to Apple products. I felt stifled and restricted by Apple software and moved to Android with the hope that I would have more freedoms, despite some other downsides that existed at the time compared to Apple, such as camera quality. Without the freedom to install what I want when I want, what's the point in even continuing with Android? The core reason I switched would be taken away, and there would be no reason at all for me to continue using Android products. Being able to sideload apps and have more control over how I use my device has been incredible, and I do not want to lose that. And my god I do not want to have to switch to a new device brand because of this, but I will if this is pushed through. "
Cortney, change.org
"if this goes ahead I will simply refuse to use Android and move to a linux 'phone. "
Graham, change.org
"Smh users should be allowed to install whatever they want "
Challen, change.org
"I like Android because of the customization and the control you have over YOUR phone. Restricting the openness and freedom you have on Android is an invasion of our rights. https://keepandroidopen.org/ "
Blake, change.org
"I bought the whole phone, i'll use the whole phone, whatever way I want. Openness of Android is the only reason I choose android, if I wanted a "Locked Down" phone, i'll just go with Apple at that point. Make these censorship at least optional to block, LET ME DECIDE, but dont force it onto blocking of APK installs all together FOR EVERYONE, let the user decide for themselves. I don't want Google to decide what I can or cannot do with the phone I BOUGHT. If I bought a phone, with the expectation and the capacity of doing X,Y,Z with it, don't take away the Z AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I'll just refuse to update my phone if it get's pushed that way. There's more malware on the ADS you promote, rather than anywhere else, im sure. "
Bryan, change.org
"Apenas apoio "
Immer, change.org
"The actions of Google are asinine, and the fact the company is trying to do this is appalling. "
Grace, change.org
"#NoMoreCensorship "
Russell, change.org
"Please keep android open!!! That's why I have an android phone in the first place. "
Michael, change.org
"Being open sourced and allowing users to have control over their own devices is what makes android beautiful. If you continue with this then you'll be no better than Apple. Allow devs, techies, power users and curious kids and adults to write their own programs and use them. Our phones! Our choice! You're going to damage yourself because it'll just let operating systems like Graphene explode and become more than what they are now "
Sean, change.org
"The entire reason I left the Apple ecosystem and came back to Android is because of the freedom you get with installing any app you want. If Google locks down app installations, there will be zero reason for me to still stay on an Android opereting system. Don't be evil, Google. "
Amirali, change.org
"Android promised us a choice. We shouldn't let them take it away from users and developers alike just to have more control. "
Cross, change.org
"I understand that piracy is bad and illegal, which is one of the main reasons why android is doing this, but android has always been about customization. having the whole operating system locked down like this is taking away a huge part of why people buy androids, and this takes away our control of our own devices. "
Judah, change.org
"Google needs to stop this. Collecting data in general is terrible "
Wojciech, change.org
"As I'm planning on purchasing a new device soon, this announcement is making me reconsider choosing android at all. If it is moving towards controlling user freedoms, Android becomes less compelling, as that has been the major draw for me. "
Taryn, change.org
"The new requirements have really killed my motivation to develop apps. I do not want to provide any personal information to big tech companies. The reason I want to work on FOSS is that I don’t want to give up my privacy, and this new policy is undermining that. These requirements will never create a truly safe and secure OS. Criminals can obtain government-issued IDs through the dark web or by scamming others. The only people being blocked are those who intend no harm at all. Please don’t lock down the ecosystem. "
kam kee, change.org
"This new policy is absurd and should never go into effect. Android's "openness" has always been a big selling point, and now they are trying to take that from everyone. "
Leonardo, change.org
"The freedom on Android is the best and that is exactly why we choose android. Please do not close off our experience on this platform. "
yer, change.org
"Android needs to stop developer verification! We cannot have a single entity like Google control what we can or cannot have! "
Cheny, change.org
"This will be the end of the android power user base, and will likely completely fracture things as open source os developers will be forced to do a complete fork. "
Matt, change.org
"The whole reason I've stuck with android so long is because of how many choices I had compared to other options. Now they are trying to get rid of them and for what? The only thing they gain by doing this is their customers ire and I don't want to sit and let something so predatory just get passed like this. "
Logan, change.org
"I am ashamed of Google for wanting to be a crappy replica of IOS you will kill Android by doing this but it will not kill open source operating systems that will take its place. If you continue down this path enjoy Androids funeral as there will always be coders out there who will fight for freedom of knowledge. "
Mark, change.org
"For the freedom of an open and universal system for all! "
Zaphyru's, change.org
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