هاتفك لن يعود ملكاً لك.

135 الأيام المتبقية للإيقاف

بدءًا من عام 2027*، ستطرح جوجل تحديثا صامتا بلا موافقة المستخدم لمنع تثبيث اي تطبيق لم يقوم مطوره بالتسجيل مع جوجل، وقع عقدا معهم، وسلمهم وثائق التعريف الخاصة به.

كل تطبيق وكل جهاز، في جميع أنحاء العالم، بدون خيار الإنسحاب ورفض التحديث!

ما الذي تفعله جوجل؟

في أغسطس 2025، أعلنت جوجل عن متطلب جديد: بدءًا من عام 2027، يجب على كل مطور تطبيقات أندرويد التسجيل مركزيًا مع جوجل قبل أن يمكن تثبيت برمجياتهم على أي جهاز. ليس فقط تطبيقات متجر بلاي: جميع التطبيقات. يشمل هذا التطبيقات المشتركة بين الأصدقاء، والموزعة عبر F-Droid، والمبنية بواسطة الهواة للاستخدام الشخصي. المطورون المستقلون، و الجمعيات الاهلية و المبادرات المجتمعية، والهواة على حد سواء سيتم منعهم من القدرة على تطوير وتوزيع برمجياتهم.

التسجيل يتطلب:

إذا لم يمتثل المطور لهذه الطلبات، سيتم حظر تطبيقاته بصمت على كل جهاز أندرويد حول العالم.

من يأذي هذا؟

أنت

لقد اشتريت هاتف أندرويد لأن جوجل أخبرتك أنه مفتوح. كان بإمكانك تثبيت ما تريد، وكان هذا هو الاتفاق.

جوجل تقوم الآن بإعادة كتابة تلك الصفقة بأثر رجعي على الأجهزة التي تمتلكها بالفعل. بعد وصول التحديث، يمكنك فقط تشغيل البرامج التي وافقت جوجل عليها مسبقًا. على هاتفك: ملكك، الذي دفعت ثمنه

المطورون المستقلون

أول تطبيق لمراهق، أداة خصوصية لمتطوع، أو نسخة تجريبية داخلية سرية لشركة. لا يهم. في عام 2027، لا يمكن تثبيت أي من هذه دون موافقة جوجل.

F-Droid، الموطن لآلاف تطبيقات أندرويد المجانية والمفتوحة المصدر، وصف هذا بأنه "تهديد وجودي". يسميه كوري دكتوروف "Darth Android".

الحكومات والمجتمع المدني

لدى جوجل سجل موثق في الامتثال عندما تطلب الأنظمة الاستبدادية إزالة التطبيقات. مع هذا البرنامج، ستظل البرمجيات التي تُشغل مؤسسات بلدك قائمة وفقًا لإرادة شركة أجنبية واحدة غير خاضعة للمساءلة.

تصف منظمة EFF عملية التحكم في التطبيقات بأنها "مسار متسع باستمرار للرقابة على الإنترنت".

"منفذ الهروب" الخاصة بجوجل هو فخ

تقول جوجل إن "المستخدمين المتمرسين" يمكنهم تثبيت التطبيقات غير الموثقة. إليكم كيف يبدو ذلك فعليًا:

  1. تعمق في إعدادات النظام، وابحث عن خيارات المطور
  2. اضغط على رقم الإصدار سبع مرات لتمكين وضع المطور
  3. تجاهل شاشات تخويف بشأن التعرض للضغط أو الإجبار
  4. أدخل رمز PIN
  5. أعد تشغيل الجهاز
  6. انتظر 24 ساعة
  7. عُدْ، وأغلق المزيد من شاشات التحذير التخويف
  8. اختر "السماح مؤقتاً" (7 أيام) أو "السماح بشكل دائم"
  9. أكّد مرة أخرى أنك تفهم "المخاطر"

تسع خطوات. فترة انتظار إلزامية لمدة 24 ساعة. لتثبيت برامج على جهاز تملكه.

والأسوأ: هذه العملية تعمل بالكامل من خلال خدمات Google Play، وليس نظام أندرويد. يمكن لجوجل تغييرها أو تشديدها أو إنهاؤها في أي وقت، دون الحاجة إلى تحديث النظام ودون الحاجة إلى موافقة. وحتى اليوم، لم يتم إصدارها في أي نسخة تجريبية أو معاينة أو إصدار Canary. إنها موجودة فقط كمقالة مدونة وبعض النماذج الأولية.

هذا أكبر من أندرويد

إذا كان بإمكان جوجل أن تغلق بأثر رجعي مليارات الأجهزة التي تم بيعها كمنصات مفتوحة، فإن كل مصنع للأجهزة على الكوكب يراقب.

المبدأ الذي يتم إرساؤه: الشركة التي صنعت جهازك هي التي تقرر، بعد أن تشتريه، أي البرامج مسموح لك بتشغيلها. في عالم البرمجيات، يُسمى هذا "سحب البساط"؛ لكن على الأقل كان بإمكانك دائمًا تثبيت برامج منافسة. أما في عالم الأجهزة، فهو أمر واقع يجردك من قدرتك ويجعلك تنخضع لأهواء وصيّ واحد غير مسؤول واحتكاري مُدان.

انفتاح أندرويد لم يكن يومًا مجرد ميزة. لقد كان الوعد الذي ميّزه عن الآيفون. اختار الملايين أندرويد لهذا السبب بالذات. جوجل الآن تلغي هذا الوعد من جانب واحد، على الأجهزة التي هي بالفعل في جيوب الناس، لأنهم قرروا أن لديهم سيطرة كافية على السوق وتأثيرًا تنظيميًا يسمح لهم بالقيام بذلك.

Ars Technica: "غيرة جوجل من آبل تهدد بتفكيك الإرث المفتوح لنظام أندرويد."

لكن انتظر، أليس هذا...

"...فقط من أجل الأمان؟"

مبرر الأمن ليس إلا ذريعة. يقوم Google Play Protect بالفعل بفحص البرمجيات الضارة بصرف النظر عن هوية المطور. طلب بطاقة هوية حكومية لا يجعل الكود أكثر أمانًا، بل يجعل المطورين قابلين للتحديد والتحكم. يمكن لصانعي البرمجيات الضارة التسجيل بسهولة، بينما غالبًا ما يعجز عن ذلك المطورون المستقلون والمعارضون. منظمة EFF صريحة: التحكم في الوصول بناءً على الهوية هو أداة رقابة، لا أداة أمان.

"...لا يزال بإمكاني التثبيت الجانبي إذا استخدمت المسار المتقدم؟"

تسع خطوات، انتظار 24 ساعة، مدفون في خيارات المطور، يعمل عبر خدمة مملوكة يمكن لجوجل إلغاؤها متى شاءت. هذا ليس تثبيتًا جانبيًا. هذه آلية ردع صُممت لضمان أن لا يكملها أحد تقريبًا. ولأنها تعمل عبر خدمات Play بدلاً من نظام التشغيل، يمكن لجوجل تشديدها أو إيقافها بصمت.

"...مشكلة فقط إذا كان لديك ما تخفيه؟"

المُبلِّغون عن المخالفات، والصحفيون، والناشطون تحت الأنظمة الاستبدادية سيكونون أول الضحايا. ضحايا العنف الأسري يأتون بعدهم مباشرة. لدى جميع هؤلاء أسباب مشروعة لتوزيع البرامج أو استخدامها دون وضع هويتهم القانونية في قاعدة بيانات جوجل. المساهمة في البرمجيات مفتوحة المصدر باسم مستعار تقليد أقدم من جوجل نفسها. هذه السياسة تضع حدًا لها على أندرويد.

"...نفس ما تفعله آبل؟"

آبل كانت حديقة مسوّرة منذ اليوم الأول. اختار الناس أندرويد لأنه كان مختلفًا. "آبل تفعل ذلك أيضًا" هو تسابق نحو القاع وحجة ضعيفة من نوع أنت أيضًا. وتحت الضغط التنظيمي (قانون الأسواق الرقمية الأوروبي)، حتى آبل تُجبر على الانفتاح. أما جوجل فتسير في الاتجاه المعاكس: تحاول ترسيخ دورها كحارس بوابة أكثر فأكثر.

"...مجرد 25 دولارًا وبعض الأوراق؟"

ربما، إن كنت مطورًا في الولايات المتحدة تملك بطاقة ائتمان ورخصة قيادة. لكن جرّب أن تكون طالبًا في أفريقيا جنوب الصحراء، أو معارضًا في ميانمار، أو متطوعًا يشرف على تطبيق صحة مجتمعية. التكلفة ليست مالية فحسب: أنت تسلّم هويتك الحكومية وإثبات مفاتيح توقيعك لشركة تمتثل بشكل اعتيادي لمطالب الحكومات بإزالة التطبيقات وكشف هوية المطورين.

قاوم

للجميع

للمطورين

لا تسجّل. لا تنضم إلى البرنامج بالتسجيل في Android Developer Console والموافقة على شروطهم وأحكامهم غير القابلة للإلغاء. لا تُثبت هويتك. لا تنصاع لهم.

.خطة جوجل لا تنجح إلا إذا امتثل المطورون. لا تمتثل.

لموظفي جوجل

إذا كنت تعلم شيئًا عن التنفيذ التقني للبرنامج أو المبرر الداخلي له، تواصل مع tips@keepandroidopen.org من جهاز غير عملك وحساب غير Gmail. السرية التامة مضمونة.

جميع المعارضين…

وقّعت 71 منظمة من 23 دولة على الرسالة المفتوحة

VideoLAN videolan.org The Calyx Institute calyx.org Technopolice Bruxelles technopolice.be Codeberg e.V. codeberg.org The Chaos Computer Club (CCC) ccc.de FUTO futo.org KDE e.V. kde.org Data Rights datarights.ngo Rocky Linux rockylinux.org European Digital Rights (EDRi) edri.org Obtainium obtainium.imranr.dev La Quadrature du Net laquadrature.net Techlore techlore.tech The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) fsfe.org Tuta Mail tuta.com JMP.chat jmp.chat Cryptee crypt.ee FOSDEM fosdem.org Nextcloud nextcloud.com The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) beuc.eu Italian Linux Society ils.org Fastmail fastmail.com Brave brave.com Vivaldi Technologies AS vivaldi.com Proton AG proton.me CryptPad cryptpad.org AdGuard adguard.com The App Fair Project appfair.org GitHub Store github-store.org FULU Foundation fulu.org The Tor Project torproject.org Open Rights Group (ORG) openrightsgroup.org Digital Rights Watch digitalrightswatch.org.au IzzyOnDroid izzyondroid.org /e/ Foundation e.foundation microG microg.org FACiL facil.qc.ca Aurora Store auroraoss.com GNU/Linux València gnulinuxvalencia.org ARTICLE 19 article19.org Ghostery ghostery.com The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) eff.org MetaBrainz Foundation metabrainz.org Fundación Karisma karisma.org.co OW2 ow2.org GNOME Foundation gnome.org The Center for Digital Progress (D64) d-64.org April april.org epicenter.works – for digital rights epicenter.works The OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF) osmfoundation.org OpenMedia openmedia.org UnifiedPush unifiedpush.org Digitale Gesellschaft digitale-gesellschaft.ch The Guardian Project guardianproject.info Molly molly.im Forbrukerrådet forbrukerradet.no The Free Software Foundation (FSF) fsf.org Software Freedom Conservancy sfconservancy.org iodé iode.tech XMPP Standards Foundation xmpp.org Open Web Advocacy open-web-advocacy.org Privacy Guides privacyguides.org LineageOS lineageos.org Rossmann Group rossmanngroup.com F-Droid f-droid.org GrapheneOS Foundation grapheneos.org The Digital Rights Foundation digitalrightsfoundation.pk Associação Nacional para o Software Livre (ANSOL) ansol.org Software Liberty Association of Taiwan slat.org.tw Fedimedia fedimedia.it Osservatorio Nessuno OdV osservatorionessuno.org

اقرأ الرسالة المفتوحة كاملة و اشكر الموقّعين →

ماذا يقولون

الصحافة التقنية

"Open letter warns mandatory registration 'threatens innovation, competition, privacy and user freedom'"

Infosecurity Magazine

"Google's new ID requirements could destroy independent app stores"

TechSpot

"We all know that's a load of bullshit. Adding a goddamn 24-hour waiting period is batshit insanity."

Thom Holwerda, OSnews

"Sideloading on Android? Soon It'll Be Like a TSA Check for Apps"

Android Headlines

"F-Droid says Google's new sideloading restrictions will kill the project"

Ars Technica

"Keep Android Open"

Linux Magazine

"Open-Source Android Apps Threatened by Google's New Policy"

Datamation

"Google's Attack on Sideloading Will Rob Android of One of Its Best Features"

How-To Geek

"Google's Android developer verification program draws pushback"

InfoWorld

"Sideloading on Android? Soon It'll Be Like a TSA Check for Apps"

Android Headlines

"F-Droid Says Google Is Lying About the Future of Sideloading on Android"

How-To Geek

"Google's New Developer Rules Threaten to End the F-Droid Open-Source App Store"

How-To Geek

"Google's dev registration plan 'will end the F-Droid project'"

The Register

"This will wipe out Android as an actual alternative to Apple's mobile OS offerings."

Hackaday

"F-Droid project threatened by Google's new dev registration rules"

Bleeping Computer

"It effectively makes the Play Store a monopoly without actually mandating that it is a monopoly."

I-Programmer

"Keep Android Open – Abwehr gegen Verbot anonymer Apps von Google"

heise online

"Android's sideloading limits are its most anti-consumer move yet"

MakeUseOf

"An 'existential' threat to alternative app stores"

The New Stack

"F-Droid Slams Google for Misleading Users About Android's App Verification"

Android Headlines

"Google's developer registration 'decree' means the end for alternative app stores"

Cybernews

"'Keep Android Open' Movement Challenges Google's Developer Verification Rule"

Open Source For U

"I've been an Android user for almost 15 years -- and Google's sideloading changes are pushing me back to iPhone"

Tom's Guide

"Android Security or Vendor Lock-In? Google's New Sideloading Rules Smell Fishy"

It's FOSS News

"Google kneecaps indie Android devs, forces them to register"

The Register

"Google says it's making Android sideloading 'high-friction' to better warn users about potential risks"

XDA Developers

"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

"I've been an Android user for almost 15 years -- and Google's sideloading changes are pushing me back to iPhone"

Tom's Guide

"Open-Source Android Apps at Risk Under Google's New Decree"

TechRepublic

"Google is restricting one of Android's most important features, and users are outraged"

SlashGear

"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

"Google's Requirement For All Android Developers To Register And Be Verified Threatens To Close Down Open Source App Store F-Droid"

Techdirt

"Google's Attack on Sideloading Will Rob Android of One of Its Best Features"

How-To Geek

"Google will make you wait 24 hours to sideload Android apps"

How-To Geek

"Resistance to Google's Android verification grows among developers"

Techzine EU

"Over 67 groups urge the company to drop ID checks for apps distributed outside Play"

The Register

"Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store"

TechCrunch

"Sideloading is dead for all intents and purposes. The Android you know and love is slowly disappearing."

Android Police

"Google will require developer verification to install Android apps, including sideloading"

9to5Google

"Google plans to block side-loading like Apple, declaring war on Android freedom"

Tuta Blog

"Android app store provider Aptoide hits Google with fresh lawsuit alleging monopoly and anticompetitive chokehold"

Benzinga

"Google's new developer rules could threaten sideloading and F-Droid's future"

Gizmochina

"Google's New Developer ID Rule Could Harm F-Droid"

Reclaim The Net

"F-Droid Says Google Is Lying About the Future of Sideloading on Android"

How-To Geek

افتتاحيات وتحليلات

منظمات ورسائل مفتوحة

"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

"While Android used to be praised for its freedom and independence, it will become a closed shop just like Apple."

Tuta

"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

"Your Smartphone, Their Rules: How App Stores Enable Corporate-Government Censorship."

ACLU

"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

"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

"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

"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

"Android's biggest strength has always been its openness. That's what attracted developers and users in the first place."

AdGuard

"Verification just confirms who's behind the app, it doesn't guarantee clean code or rule out malicious behavior."

AdGuard

"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

"Google is turning Android into a walled garden monopoly. We must prevent it."

Osservatorio Nessuno

"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

"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

"Unilaterally consolidating power to approve software into the hands of a single unaccountable corporation is a threat to digital sovereignty everywhere."

Nextcloud

"Ultimately, Google's plan will stop you from owning your Android phone."

Tuta

"Centralised, intransparent security architectures certainly help secure monetization and the market by locking out competitors."

Nextcloud

"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

"Forcing software creators into a centralized registration scheme is as egregious as forcing writers and artists to register with a central authority."

F-Droid

"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

"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

"Remember: It's your phone, your data, your freedom. Don't let Google take it away."

Tuta

"We unequivocally advise against signing up for this program, now or ever."

F-Droid Open Letter

"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

"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

"We are running out of time until Google becomes the gate-keeper of all users devices."

F-Droid

"MEP Christel Schaldemose formally questioned whether Google's mandatory central registration is compatible with the Digital Markets Act."

European Parliament

"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

"Independent software distribution on Android will now require Google's explicit permission."

AdGuard

"Nearly 50 organizations published an open letter opposing what they characterize as a 'kill switch for the open ecosystem.'"

Tech-ish Kenya

"The European Pirate Party called for proportionate and transparent measures that ensure security without restricting innovation, limiting anonymity, or distorting competition."

European Pirate Party

"Google Play itself has repeatedly hosted malware, proving that corporate gatekeeping doesn't guarantee user protection."

F-Droid

يوتيوبرز وصنّاع المحتوى

"Your device, their rules. The phone you bought and paid for is no longer really yours."

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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"Android has become what they set out to destroy."

Linus Sebastian, LMG Clips – 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

"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

"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

"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

"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 decides what's safe for you, and you don't get a say."

fireborn – Blog

"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

"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 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

"Developers of privacy-focused tools and emulators will have to dox themselves, making them vulnerable to government agencies or legal action."

SomeOrdinaryGamers (Mutahar) – YouTube

"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

"That's not openness. That is control."

ChiefGyk3D – 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

"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

"If I'm going to be trapped in a walled garden anyway, I'll take the one that's built properly."

fireborn – Blog

"Google is removing the one key advantage Android has over iOS."

SomeOrdinaryGamers (Mutahar) – 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

المطورون والمجتمع

"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

"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

"Social engineering is destroyed with education, not with restriction and control. Trading freedom for safety eliminates both."

survirtual, Hacker News

"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

"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

"Once deployed, there's a near 100% chance of such a mechanism being used for evil."

Zak, Lemmy

"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

"The open Android I knew and loved is long gone."

girvo, Hacker News

"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

"Modern life practically forces you to put all your eggs into a phone controlled by one of two profit-seeking companies."

koala, Lobsters

"Play store is full of scam apps, F-Droid isn't, but Play Store is considered secure. It's all theatre."

gcupc, Lobsters

"'Sideload' is like 'jaywalking'; seeks to stigmatize humans being human."

tejtm, Hacker News

"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

"All the banking and payment apps in India refuse to open if you have developer mode on."

nibbleyou (developer in India), Hacker News

"They're boiling the frog -- slowly removing features until all choice is gone."

hn92726819, 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

"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

"Android was never actually open and now they are abandoning even the thin pretense."

Tiraon, Tildes

"Google seems to actively hate people who develop for their platforms."

hbn, Hacker News

"Google wants the authority of a gatekeeper without the overhead of human accountability."

afferi300rina, Hacker News

"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

"Signal, VPNs -- they'll have a list of everyone opting out of government-mandated backdoors."

Max-P, Lemmy

"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

"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

"It took them 17 years to finally pull the cage all the way shut."

Apocryphon, Hacker News

"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

"Google's plan to require developer verification would give Google and governments the ability to ban any app."

Zak, 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

"The phrase 'sideload' is psychological propaganda we are all best off rejecting."

WaffleMonster, Slashdot

"They have stolen a free product and are now actively locking out the people who built it."

TheTearMiser, 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

"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

"Brazil government app refuses to operate with developer mode on."

flykespice (developer in Brazil), 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

"For 'security' -- always security with these assholes. They're just building the walls of the walled garden higher."

lynxy, Tildes

"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

"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

"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

"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

"We are talking about something categorically worse than vendor lock-in: Collective vendor lock-in."

anordal, Lobsters

"The war on General Purpose Computing is the death of innovation and a direct attack on digital freedom."

layfellow, 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

"Android is for everyone, provided they submit to Google exclusively."

gumby271, Hacker News

"Give me liberty or give me Symbian."

masterofn001, Lemmy

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"Some time in the future, we will look back to this era and ask ourselves what went wrong."

BenjaminRi, Lobsters

"It's not cyclic. It's a ratchet and it gets tighter and tighter."

BenjaminRi, Lobsters

أصوات من العريضة

"By what standard? "

Alex, change.org

"My property. My rules. "

Steven, change.org

"We need to live free with our freedom, Apk files is the only reason that I use Android device. "

Laurent, change.org

"By implementing mandatory developer registration in September 2026, Google is fundamentally betraying the core promise of Android as an open ecosystem. This shift towards a restrictive, gatekeeper model breaks user trust, kills anonymous innovation, and signals that Android is no longer about user freedom, but rather total corporate control. This is the end of the open platform I chose to support. I urge Google to reverse course it is not too late. The path we are heading on is a very dark one . If you carr only about money you should consider how much money you will lose from this.. I will be leaving Googles ecosystem entirely from chrome, to gemini, to android . I Have been with Google since the beta invites of Gmail but this direction I cannot support and WILL not. Apple would be smart to take advantage of this and capture a gigantic portion of your marketshare. I know I will be using my iphone instead of my s25 ultra. "Don't be evil" - Google But even step you have taken is from greed and control. Which is evil. You have betrayed the very people who made you who you are. "

Michael, change.org

"Google has always been the biggest hypocrite in the technology space. From stealing people's ideas to just buying them up. And ruining the experience. When I first fell in love with Android, it was because it was an open source platform that I could do as I pleased. I could extract the ROM and customize it to my liking. Now there is no semblance of customizability besides the walls of Jericho that Google has put. We must tear down these walls like the Berlin Wall and watch it burn because again Android was supposed to be for the people by the people not what iPhone or Apple is. Money hungry conglomerate corporate insatiable bastards. "

Adam, change.org

"This is a step towards global disaster... Letting Google and Apple control any and all functionality you have on your handheld computer is absolutely absurd. The right android phone can be tuned to a perfect workhorse and sidekick, this new Android Developer Verification Requirement would kill any hope of having personalized and properly functional phones whilst letting Google choose exactly what Developers get to provide tools, collect your data, and offer in-app purchases. I think we all know Google has ruined almost every program on these devices already: accessing local files on the device requires that you use their "google files app" which is ridiculous and clearly them trying to take control where they shouldnt; photos is now "google photos"; wallet? google.; calendar? google; want to have a phone without some BS ai or something hard baked into it? well too bad! assistant cant be turned off; these little briefings with ads that pop up when you unlock your phone?; the adds in the weather app?; how about when you want to go to the nearest restaurant, just trust google to take you there i guess. Here's a very important part of all this: notice that Google replaces all of your PRIVATE apps! My files, which are private, are no longer private since by default the files app is a Google app now. My photos, which are private, owned by Google. My super secure offline location which holds my bank cards, very private, now online and stored somewhere by Google, the company that paid millions to cover up a data breach of 53 million users from 2015 to 2018 (if you were wondering why your info shows up on so many dark websites, thanks incognito!). Pretty much in short: Google is trying to own and control society and this pretty much is a huge leap for them to get there. Don't get me started on Apple. "

Kaden, change.org

"Without users being able yo choose where they get their apps from, smartphones will be a completely locked down means of computing. It does not protect the average user's data, it just makes it so that only the people that Google says can harvest and sell are doing it. They aren't going to vet those people, they're just going to collect their entry fee. "

Nick, change.org

"This issue would directly negatively effect my day to day usage of my android phone, concerns of this issue have resulted in me installing GrapheneOS on my phone to avoid this potentially becoming a reality. "

Kyler, change.org

"I have always stayed with Android knowing I was free to create and develop and install and control my own device without the need to root the device. This decision will make this device just as worthless to me as an apple ios device and then looking again for other alternatives. Android was not always as polished and of thr same quality and IOS but having the ability to control my own device and software meant more to me then a fully polished and responsive mobile device. "

Brad, change.org

"Let's fight for our freedom. "

Juan, change.org

"Stop Google "

Sa, 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

"You okay Google? Isolation is never the answer. Hope you feel better soon! "

Robert, change.org

"Android is betraying it's one purpose, the "don't be evil" "

M, change.org

"This is absurd. To remove one of the main things that drew people to android over iPhone is laughably moronic. Especially when some of the best apps recommend by people come from outside the play store. Pull it together! "

Logan, change.org

"One of the main reasons people even use Android is because it grants them a choice and freedom as a consumer to choose the software they use on their phones. By demanding that any other app or software made by a third party has to register with Google, provide private and information including their government IDs AND pay a FEE to Google for the privilege of developing an open source application... Google is essentially just creating a censorship tool and the beginning of a monopoly over any and all android software, just with extra steps. Proceeding with this will hurt both the reputation of Android and Google even more than has already been done this past year. "

Rhiannon, change.org

"Don't trust billionare companies, they want to take away our choice! "

Hugo, change.org

"As a regular user and consumer, I am frightened by this direction. Android has historically differentiated itself by being an open platform that users can customize to their liking - this is THE main reason I continue to purchase Android phones. I am a developer as a hobby, and will occasionally create my own apps to support my unique projects and requirements. I have no interest in becoming an authorized developer - that wouldn't make sense for me. In addition, I benefit STRONGLY from the community of existing open-source apps. I am an avid F-Droid user, and find the apps there to be of equal or better quality than those in the Play Store. If Android is to become as locked-down as iOS, then my next phone purchase will be from Apple to benefit from their increased privacy protections. The main differentiator drawing me.to Android will be gone. "

Patrick, change.org

"Android giving users choice has been the staple point of android OS. Removing choices like sideloading apps is not the move. I develop apps for myself, I do not want to be "an approved developer" I don't have time nor care for that. This action also is the beginning of censorship, and monopolization of android OS. Android started as an open operating system, you have simply turned it into a reskinned Apple OS. Your choice to go anti-consumer is going to hurt. You are not "protecting" anyone "

Seth, change.org

"Android needs to remain about choice not a locked down OS like Apple, that's the reason I and so many others choose android "

Sean, change.org

"Android is designed to be free. We own OUR devices. This is not up for discussion "

Brandon, change.org

"well ima an artist and i dont have much money wich mean i cant even afford to even exist sometimes but using open source tools and side loading allows me to even have a chance to compete e end with other artists who may be alot more wealthy or privlaged .not only that its my right as Amarican citizen since the first amendment i have every right to free speach and self expression and to extension the Bible as a divine right giving to me as a human being from god him self and every other living thing on this eath across the world and even the universe if you will.my freedom mean i have a chance if you take that way that make things harder for everyone not just the ones that already had nothing. ppl are willing to do so much if you give them even the smallest chance if it mean achieving there dreams so ,plz reconsider. as some one whos used google practically for evey single input in there os its turned me into someone better then even i could imagine and bough me so much hope. i think it would break my heart if you didn't. "

light, change.org

"Google isn't trying to protect us from malware with these policies; it's simply trying to control the platform it owns to profit from its platform and the data it collects. "

Tiburcio, change.org

"Enough is enough google! I am already swapping back over to iOS for more than a few reasons other than oh i dont know, YOUR OWN PHONES CATCHING FIRE ON MY BEDSIDE TABLE! As a developer, This makes it really hard to want to make an app cross-compatible with your OS! First you flatten the bugdroid, then you make unsafe phones, now this?! Sorry, but even I, a hardcore android fan am taking Apple's stance on this. "

Shibe, change.org

"Morra Google! "

Abraao, change.org

"Android was always desired by those who want an open platform. It should remain that way... for a laundry list of reasons. "

Byran, change.org

"Please don't let Google screw us over with this now! I hope we win and they don't do this! "

Saul, change.org

"To put it simply, the Android user experience has always been about the ability to express yourself, experimentation and creative freedom. Why squash that? What are you actually gaining? You'll lose a massive user base for the sake of what, "control"? "

Phil, change.org

"The whole reason I stuck with Android is because I have my freedom. Without that freedom, I rather have an iPhone or switch the GrapheneOS. You're taking away the choice from us. The openness of the OS is something only knowledgeable users utilize, so why take it away at all? Stop screwing over the people that supported you "

Kevic, change.org

"The whole point of Android is that we had a choice and a powerful environment to create and use apps. This was the one feature that allowed Android to grow in the beginning and has sustained that growth since to become the most dominate phone OS in the world. People left Apple for Android. This is nothing but a cash grab and to lock people in their walled garden. Very anti-consumer. "

Joe, change.org

"I'm not even an Android app developer, but I've always wanted to be. Now, I'm not sure that I do. Making this change will mean that all apps will funnel through Google Play, which gives Google exclusive control and a censorship chokehold on the entire Android ecosystem. I shouldn't have to explain why that would not be good. The whole thing that made Android different from iOS is that it was OPEN. Now Google's just throwing that out of the window. At this point, I might just switch to iOS because Android has lost all of its character. "

Ethan, change.org

"I use Android because it's free than OS so what will be the difference between iOS and Android if it's not for "site loading".i am simply user not a developer I like to be able to take a software and install it with my device.Don't be evil but that's not true anymore but remember for where you coming from if you forget this your roots you have no future. "

Krasimir, change.org

"I moved from iOS to Android, to get back the freedom of using my phone according to my wishes. I have a lot of friends who did too. We all condemn this attempt by Google to enshittify Android. Protection and imposition are not the same. Google, don't be evil. "

Max, change.org

"We want to use the devices we bought with our very own money, however we want without corporations force feeding us whatever they want like Google "

Magnolia, change.org

"This is the only reason android is better than android "

David, change.org

"When I'm bored, I don't look through the play store - it's full of ads and mind-numbing time wasters. Instead, I look through f-droid, which is full of solo developer apps designed to actually be useful and solve a problem. Maybe a problem unique to that one developer, but it's always interesting to look at. We flock to Android because apple doesn't let us side-load. Why take away something that is core to many users experience and has only limited security problems? We all know this isn't about security, it's about control. It's my phone, let me do what I want with it. (And don't even get me started about Android's rollback "protection" >:( ) "

Spencer, change.org

"The whole point---for me---to have an Android phone is to stay away from Apple's closed ecosystem. Google locking down APK privileges to "approved developers" spits in the face of this. An owner of a phone should have the right and ability to install whatever they want on it, without deference to any company. If this change goes through, my next phone certainly won't be an Android one. "

Adam, change.org

"As a user, I will always opt to sideload apps whenever possible. Whether I need a photo editor, keyboard app, audio equalizer app, or any other kinds of apps, I consistently seek open-sourced sideloading options before I even consider using the Google Play Store. Whenever I need any mobile app that isn't social, I prioritize finding an open-sourced app solution. With Google's dominance in the global mobile OS market, it's clear they will attempt to restrict any freedoms of their OS that they can get their hands on if they're not stopped. The importance of maintaining the freedom to sideload apps has never been more critical. Legislative initiatives like the App Store Accountability Act, which pushes users into surrendering personal private details to proprietary third-party solutions for identity verification, underscore why sideloading is a crucial defense line. If Google is allowed to proceed with implementing these restrictions, users will likely get funneled into using its proprietary app store, forced to share personal information like age and biometric data that links back to them for targeted ads and surveillance. Google's push for limiting sideloading is a textbook case of anti-competitiveness as well. The danger of this change can be summed up in an analogy: if some people occasionally get food poisoning from non-vetted sources, should we altogether limit food access to vendors that are deemed as, 'approved' or 'verified' by a multibillion-dollar, anti-consumer corporation? If this decision doesn't get shot down, there is a risk of being forced to give up personal privacy, autonomy, and choice. "

Matthew, change.org

"Stop this bullshit of trying to control our lives, deciding what I can and can't do. Enough with planned obsolescence, enough with authoritarianism. I, and only I, decide what's best for me, what I can and can't download on MY PHONE. "

Leonardo, 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

"Without Youtube Revanced on my android phone in september 2026 i have to use official youtube and i hate it when google wants to make more money and everything and will have to kill the apk files ive enjoyed for a long time, even lucky patcher app owners will have to use their money on their favorite app to waste money and so much more...and by the news of the google update it makes me upset and angry about it. Im standing up to prove who i am and will be using youtube revanced app instead of official youtube app for people like me, i will never give up and will protest with other android users who are against google for our glory. #FreeAndroid #JusticeForAndroid #MakeGoogleGoneForever "

Leland, change.org

"I have contributed to FOSS apps that were published to Google play and F-Droid + similar stores, as well as written multiple apps for myself and family members. Android has long been an open platform that actually gives the user(s) freedom to do what they want with the device they own. However, that free and open model is coming under threat more and more in the name of "security" all while collecting and monetizing our user data. We do not need another walled garden Apple experience. Android users use Android BECAUSE of choice and freedom, not in spite of it. "

Christopher, change.org

"Hey Google. You are a silent cancer. You've engulfed everything in your path for decades: true innovation, billions of unsuspecting people's data, healthy competition, and choice. You've been sued, repeatedly fined, and ordered to break up your monopoly (you haven't), yet you keep metastasizing. I could cite historical, philosophical, religious, even SciFi metaphors of what you are, but "plague" is sufficient. For the love of humanity, if in fact there's anyone left at Plague HQ who still identifies as human, keep your metastatic tentacles off the Android Developer Platform. You've done enough harm already. Signed, The last cancer-free organ you have yet to destroy "

Andromeda, change.org

"One of the reasons why we chose Android was its freedom of doing what you want on your device. Now we have to stop this limitation of a recognized right. "

Francesco, change.org

"I don't want some mega corporation to tell me what code I can and cannot run on my own phone. The AI BS they're pushing is bad enough, this is even worse. "

Jackie, change.org

"Eliminating side loading will remove the main competitive edge that Android has over iOS, remove the open nature that users enjoy and prevent certain use cases. "

Chris, change.org

"Being able to install "unverified" apps from third party app repositories has allowed me to discover ad-free software that fits my needs perfectly that aren't available on the Google Play store. Removing support for "unverified" apps would destroy all ability for me to use the phone I purchased how I see fit. "

Nella, change.org

"I have found great use of android APKs. Because of them I can run comunity devoulped apps like Winalator, a Wine wraper for android, allows me to play windows games on my phone. Theres also PhoneVR, a free and open source app allowing me and many others to rededicate old phones into capable VR headsets, for free! I also get to play old games like Asphalt 8 retry, a mod that fixes alot of the pay-to-win gripes of Asphalt 8's current form. Same goes for Bad Piggies reborn, a free comunity mod adding loads of content and improvments to the origonal game! Not to mention open source app stores like FDroid. By locking down android, your losing support from people like me. Do you really want to kill the reason android is great? Just for a few dollars more? Are you going to just dismiss the people that made you great? We're not just numbers on a spread sheet you know, we're people too. We don't need protected by governments and companys. All that does is remove freedom, dehummanize people, and make people who cant think for themselfs. Whats next? Burning books? In the direction we're heading, we're not far from becoming the socity in Ferenheight 451. "

George, change.org

"This change would effectively prevent any normal user from escaping the constant for profit schemes you'll find on the play store. Kids deserve games that don't try to coerce money out of them "

Jody, change.org

"I started using an Android device because of the freedom to use the software I wanted to use. If Google goes forward with these restrictions, I wont have any reason to use Android devices anymore. "

Luis, change.org

"We live in a declining society where it is becoming ever more apparent that those in power wish to hoard & guide technologies to enrich themselves more. Enough! Proprietary systems are no different than a safe, one you may use only in the manner that those with enough wealth & influence to have the safe's combination are willing to allow its usage. Such systems are a net negative to wider societal growth & stability. Meant to lock out new talent & stifle overall creativity which could massively improve the system overall. Just another example of a tech company's massive overreach. It should 100% be stopped. "

Aaron, change.org

"Invasion of privacy in the name of security "

Sadegh, change.org

"I am an android user, for personal usage and Emulation purposes. I would like to still install from who I want if I want or need the apps. Android was always about customization. doing this strips users of that because i'm pretty sure there are apps out there for this purpose. "

Andy, change.org

"The freedom and flexibility was literally the reason I never owned an iPhone. It's like Google wants me to use Ubuntu Touch or something... "

Katrina, change.org

"I've been using Apk Apps since I was 6. 6! I'm 18 now. If you do this, your removing something that's a Part of My Life and also maybe some people too. This Is what makes Android Unique, This Is the Gift and the Power of Android! If you take It away, you're also taking away the freedom people believed this system to have, this freedom allows users to truly own their devices! And your only just taking It away like nothing, like this system hasn't existed since the launch of Android! Like Seth mentioned, Android started as an open operating system, you have simply turned It Into a reskinned Apple OS. You're better then this. The stop button Is right there, Just click It... ❤️‍🩹 "

Jonah, change.org

"Please, allow for users to make exceptions or some other control, keep Android flexible. "

Boris, change.org

"Android will no longer be what it was initially pitched to be, a phone OS with the freedom to do virtually anything you wanted. After many years of owning android phones I have had to move to iPhone as I can no longer stand how google operates and what they are doing to restrict the android OS. "

Aiden, 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

"The world can live without android if it's just an apple clone, and the Chinese will copy/clone better if you give them such a easy opportunity sense your taking away freedom, all they have to do is give some freedom and everyone won't be buying apple or android anymore. "

Hilario, change.org

"This is a horrendous plan. The Android Open Source Project is supposed to be just that... Open source. Requiring developers to provide Id, pay a fee, and register to release software for phones that people own is untenable. This is effectively making Android as much of a walled garden as Apple. Except Apple does it better. The whole draw of Android was the openness of the platform. If you remove that, we would be better off with Apple. PLEASE do not ruin Android by going ahead with this misguided plan. "

Alan, change.org

"Google is literally taking away our right. Yes we CAN bypass this with there feature allowing us to install unverified apps but making us wait 24 hours BUT they are going to give our devices a "unsafe" mark stopping banking and many other apps from working the same way they did to ROOTED phones. "

yousef, change.org

"Google doesn't care about people or their privacy "

Adrian, change.org

"HOW NEXT GENS GONNA INSTALL MINECRAFT?! "

Kyouko, change.org

"I have android to be free, not to be in a digital prison. Android shouldn't be another apple. "

Dominic, change.org

"The sooner this is allowed the sooner our country is gone for good. State control over personal devices will have gone too far. "

April, change.org

"Removing the freedom that Android provides is not the right way at all. If this is enacted, developers will lose their privacy because they have to give their government ID to a tech giant that also has an ad firm and the OS will not be different than its competition. I got an Android device because of the freedom it gave me, and it's sad to have thoughts about switching to iOS. "

Zach, change.org

"Don't be evil "

Qihang, 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

"Android is about freedom, not control this change will ruin android forever "

Eli, change.org

"Google should not limit our ability to do what we want with the devices we paid for with our own money. Google has a history of limiting or removing things (an example being the whole Manifest V3 and ad-blocker situation), often using 'security' as a way to take more control over their device and services, and I believe that if we do not stop Google from limiting APKs and forcing developers to be verified, we may well be opening up the door for them to do even more. "

Mr., change.org

"I use multiple open-source side loaded apps. 60% or more of my time on my phone is using these side-loaded apps. I rather get rid of google than get rid of these apps. "

Yuntin, change.org

"The device that you bought that you own should not have any restrictions added after the purchase of what you can or cannot download onto said device. What (Google) is trying to do is going directly against that. "

Emilie, change.org

"Removing the ability to side-load apps is an egregious deviation from what made Android better. Android should remain free and open, the experience should not be lobotomized into what ends up being just a "cheaper iPhone". "

Luke, change.org

"1 federal lawsuit wasn't enough? Why after all that's happened, being convicted for monopoly must Google feel the need to throw "

Zach, change.org

"As a developer, stop! This is the only reason I used Android and didn't have to jailbreak and root it. Making this change under the guise of security amounts to manipulation, lying, deceiving your customers, and taking away their rights to use their device in their way. Mark my words, rooting will become popular again and I will personally be at the forefront of actively working against you and your goals. I cannot agree with such blatant bad faith arguments and poor reasoning. You assume most people aren't developers and too stupid to see through this. You want more money by any means necessary no matter how angry people get. Android was supposed to be an open ecosystem and now you're actively anti-consumer. It's disgusting. "

CARLOS, change.org

"I know this sounds crazy, but I just want to be able to use the device I paid for the way that I want to. "

Thomas, change.org

"I switched from IOS to Android because I value my freedom to choose as a customer. Taking that away is incredibly short-sighted on Google's part. To remove such a huge part of my choice to use my device as I wish, is to remove my reason for going with Android in the first place. Google, if you value your customers, GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT. No one is asking for this. Let customers make their own choice. If people want a locked down ecosystem, they can go to IOS. It has been that way from the beginning. Do not take away the thing that brings people to your ecosystem in the first place. "

Katie, change.org

"whatever happened to actually owning something you bought? like seriously stop with this nonsense. I should be able to install things onto my phone as I see fit. "

Eric, 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

"I first switched over to a Samsung phone because of Android being a open OS. I love being able to make small apps for myself as a developer, and as a user I like that I can find small dev groups on places like GitHub making really cool and useful apps that you would never be able to find on the play store. "

Connor, change.org

"As an iPhone user, Android's ability to sideload apps was the single reason I purchased an Android tablet instead of an iPad. Now that this is going away, Google can go away because they're no different than an Apple phone now. "

Robert, change.org

"I went back to Android over Apple because of APK freedom. There is no reason to buy an Android phone if this change is implemented. Android users love DIY: researching, exploring new manufacturers, using independent APK repositories. Google is trying to destroy the one thing that makes Android appealing. We all might as well buy iPhones if this is the direction they are choosing. Or dump our money into PinePhone dev. "

Kay, change.org

"I'm old enough to remember when Google's company montto was "Don't be evil". "

Ryan, change.org

"This is the main appeal of android to me. Having the freedom with my own device that I paid for instead of being limited. "

Joshua, change.org

"This change has nothing to do with security, it wants to remove the power of choice from the user and screw up many developer by forcing them to use the Play Store. Android is all about freedom and will always be. "

Yuri, change.org

"Im sick of these souless corps squeezing every cent from us they can! "

Marcus, change.org

"This is a blatant attack on freedom, and I cannot just stand by and watch it come to pass. If we allow the likes of Google to take such steps, they'll clear a whole staircase. "

Emir, 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

"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

"I've been using Android for 10+ years instead of iOS sorely because of how open it is. I can customize a lot of my phone for convenience, looks, accessibility; I can download programs from F-Droid or games from Itch.io. Removing that or making it significantly harder is a deal breaker for me. "

Lucas A, change.org

"This will effectively remove the android edge over apple. Modifying my phone is the main reason I choose not just android but GOOGLE PIXEL phone and accessories. Literally a huge market mistake. Signed by android consumer and advocate... "

Michael, change.org

"Also consider giving money towards the Graphene OS at grapheneos.org/donate "

Adam, change.org

"User: I do! Developer: I do! Google: I don't! They have no real business doing this - maybe if there was an alternative, but there isn't! This is the continuation of the meltdown they've been having about adblockers. "

Nona, change.org

"This is literally why I switched to android. The literal only reason. "

Ari Siobhan, change.org

"it's crazy that they're doing this . It was the only reason i chose "google" android in the 1st place, because of it's semi open nature "

jamie, change.org

"As others have definitely stated along with me, the Android platform was always chosen over Apple because of the freedom it allowed. Creating another oppressive "nanny" based prison environment for customers is not the answer. No "features" or promises of "safety" are worth giving up freedom of a once open OS. "

Jason, change.org

"As detailed at https://developer.android.com/developer-verification, Google is planning to impose a requirement that developers of Android applications centrally register their signing keys with Google and pay a fee, enforced by the Google Play Services framework preventing applications from unregistered developers from running on users' devices. Google already lost a case on this issue and was forced to make it easier for users to install applications from third parties (https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/google-proposes-app-store-reforms-settlement-with-fortnite-maker-epic-games-2025-11-05/). The F-Droid project has clearly stated that Google's current behavior threatens its very existence, which is as far as I can tell in direct violation of the intent of that ruling (https://f-droid.org/en/2025/09/29/google-developer-registration-decree.html). I personally use F-Droid as the primary source of software on my device. If Google goes through with this plan, my freedom to use my device as I see fit will be harmed. "

Duncan, change.org

"The openness of the Android is its unique selling point. Keep Android open to keep Android Android. "

John, change.org

"This is crazy. Stop this madness. We pay for our devices and should have the right to install whatever software we like without verification. Keeping us safe with regulation is not the answer. Stop the madness and keep android open. "

Steven, change.org

"What is an android without weird apps installed from a weird website... I'm just kidding but that is what make better android you can make anything that you want. but if you can't install apps from outside of the play store you are going to lose so much content and I don't talk English so well but for this cause I'm did learn... An android without free apps not is an real android. And I'm not talking about like all apps need to don't cost I'm talking of being free of install any thing that you need. That's all thanks for read and remember being free is better than being dreaming. "

Elias, change.org

جميع المراجع والافتتاحيات والتغطيات الصحفية والفيديوهات →

اتخذ قرارًا قائمة كاملة بالموارد، جهات التنظيم، روابط لكل دولة، وكيفية التصدي الرسالة المفتوحة اقرأ الرسالة المفتوحة الموقّعة من منظمات ترفض برنامج التحقق من المطورين

لقد اشتريت هاتفك.
أنت من يجب أن يقرر ما يعمل عليه.

لا ينبغي أن يستلزم ذلك عملية من 9 خطوات، وانتظار 24 ساعة، وإذن مستمر من جوجل.

شارك هذه الصفحة. لا تسجّل. لا تدعهم يغلقون أندرويد.