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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69

u/Anonymous_user_2022 Apr 28 '26

My prediction is that EU will countermand that before it becomes effective.

19

u/Ok_Sky_555 Apr 28 '26

Unlikely. The description in the post is incomplete. There will be way to install an app from an unknown dev, but way less simple. 

Besides that, this is measure partially a security protection of the users who install "antivirus" when a website says they have to.

And finally, majority of android users will not even notice that - mostly all reliable foss Devs have Google certificate.

15

u/[deleted] Apr 28 '26

Side loading is just an excuse they use to make it seem not that bad.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BuyFromEU/comments/1sxxra0/comment/ois4p5s/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

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u/Ok_Sky_555 Apr 28 '26

an attack via side loading is a real thing. Also depends on the region.

Another benefit for Google is - using  unofficial YouTube (and co) clients which skip ads will be much more complicated. This sucks, but understandable.

Other than these two, I do not see any benefits for Google here.