Sounds to me like this is a workaround so that Google can maintain control over who gets to release apps now that they can't do it by locking the apps behind Google Play. I wouldn't be surprised if being verified also includes some kind of fee.
this post was submitted on 25 Aug 2025
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I doubt its about a few dollars from developers. They'll say it's about contacting devepers. But I think it's really about control over who can publish apps, force them to agree to weird T&Cs and allow Google to exclude people.
ravanced, magisk, newpipe etc
This. And obviously to ban all the things like adblockers, NewPipe, custom browsers, etc that give people any kind of relief from Google's digital slavery.
its a threat to people using browser forks thats for sure.
This is actually horrible
I will be purchasing a phone that runs free open source Linux. This whole Android thing sucks ass.
The fascist US obviously won't do shit, but Europe ought to outlaw this blatant anti-trust violation.
Time to switch to /e/OS
WDYM?
The way I understand what /e/OS is, it sounds like it should be able to not include this check
Unfortunately, as I still type, there’s no liberated deblobbed ROM. /e/OS, like every custom AOSP fork, is dependent on leaks &/manufacturer provided ROMs. After Google silos AOSP ROMs, all forks will not be able to acquire updates downstream.
Linux Phones, are not alternatives.
Looks like we need dedicated hardware. /e is phones, graphene phones etc then.
But if the forks are able to tear out the gapps, shouldn't this "cert" check go with it? I understand that the check would have to be in the installer app. Even if it's a part of launching mechanism, it should also be possible to tear it out
Linux Phones, are not alternatives.
I'm sorry, I don't follow. AFAIK GRUB did not need to get some blessing to get installed on UEFI. So Linux Phones should be free of big tech gatekeeping. This exchange we are having here is on technology community, not privacy (where I would get your point)
Will just F-Droid have to do this or any app developer? If it's the latter, I guess might as well go with an unofficial OS...
If the phone ships with Play Store, Play Services, and other Google Mobile Services (GMS) apps the requirement will be enforced, it doesn't matter which source you use to get your apps. They claim to provide an exception for "student projects", but per their post, it's yet to be created.
Welp I guess Android and iOS are becoming more alike. Just not in the direction I'd have liked.
If this goes through, I'll move from my S23 Ultra to a flipphone the moment it gets outdated, and also build some portable computing device from a Raspberry Pi CM.
Let Google know what you think about this: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfN3UQeNspQsZCO2ITkdzMxv81rJDEGGjO-UIDDY28Rz_GEVA/viewform