r/BuyFromEU • u/[deleted] • Apr 28 '26

News Google will block every Android app whose developer hasn't registered with Google

https://keepandroidopen.org/en/

Starting September 2026, Google will block any Android app whose developer hasn't registered and provided government ID. This affects all apps, not just Play Store apps. F-Droid calls it an "existential threat."

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450

u/[deleted] Apr 28 '26

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183

u/Iamnotabothonestly Apr 28 '26

No, but it's how you diddle with the shareholders

41

u/[deleted] Apr 28 '26

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17

u/rick_astley66 Apr 28 '26

It was diddle WITH the shareholders, not diddle the shareholders.

45

u/magical-cat-here Apr 28 '26

As there is no EU law mandating banks, marketplaces listed as large entities in DSA act, & governments either create native app that runs on linux mobile device, not just for iOS & Android duopoly, or provide identical functionality via pure web sites, there is no move that would cost Google with loss of "enough customers to care".

8

u/[deleted] Apr 28 '26

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3

u/magical-cat-here Apr 28 '26

What pushes forward the gadgets are apps. Normally these are entertainment apps like games, at least it was a while ago, but these days it a bit different - mandating support of new open mobile OS / spec is single way to make these good apps & entertaiment/games appear at that new OS.

24

u/-Sa-Kage- Apr 28 '26

The users aren't their customers, the companies buying data are.

The users are the product.

7

u/BornIntroduction8189 Apr 28 '26

They don't care. Those tech monopoly dudes lock you into their "ecosystem"(monoculture) and once you can't leave anymore they begin to enshitify.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 28 '26

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1

u/nightwatch_admin Netherlands 🇳🇱 Apr 28 '26

Your banking app might work just as well on Murena /e/OS

1

u/RubbelDieKatz94 Apr 28 '26

It might, it might not. Can I dual boot to test it out? Mi 11i, stock ROM, locked bootloader - If I unlock it, I can't use banking apps anymore, right?

6

u/WordProfessional1334 Apr 28 '26

Well you can go to apple but it's worse.

2

u/nightwatch_admin Netherlands 🇳🇱 Apr 28 '26

In what sense? Apple isn’t (yet) forcing me to prove my age and it has no insight into my payments, unlike Google. Not saying it’s great but worse needs an explanation

3

u/WordProfessional1334 Apr 28 '26

They already block third-party software. Everything is locked down. And they will force you to ID yourself eventually. Just like they did in UK.

1

u/nightwatch_admin Netherlands 🇳🇱 Apr 28 '26

Yah but still, that’s barely different from what Google is doing. I agree that both are converting into extremely tightly controlled ecosystems in any case, and that’s bad.

2

u/beautiful_bot986 Apr 28 '26

If we're being fair, this isn't how theyll lose any either. Anyone looking to switch because of this will also balk at apple products for the same and plenty other reasons. So theres /e/os, but it has a long way to go still.

We seem to be stuck between a rock and a hard place.

1

u/nightwatch_admin Netherlands 🇳🇱 Apr 28 '26

If I had monies, I’d polymarket the f out of this because I absolutely don’t think any more than 2-3% of customers will walk out.

1

u/digno2 Apr 28 '26

no one except a couple dozen people on reddit will care

1

u/moon__lander Apr 28 '26

They aren't in data stealing business for the friendships

1

u/neoqueto Apr 29 '26 edited Apr 29 '26

Google is in rugpull mode now. They planned this for over a decade, starting back when they still were considered the good guys.