discussion Android Potentially Becoming a "Locked" Platform

[RageWolf1911]

Hey everyone,

Bit of a different topic for here, but an important one to a lot of us. Especially those who want to continue to enjoy some of the games here on Android platforms.

Google/Android is attempting to lock down apps and require all apps to go through them and be verified (which also means forking over money to them) in order to be installed.

Android has always been an "open platform" allowing developers to create apps and distribute them to others without having to pay fees or pay google like Apple forces on their platform.

This change hurts small and independent app developers as well as a consumers ability to use any app they would like to or develop.

I ask that anyone who understands this, or wants to learn more check out the following resources:

Learn more:

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Sign this petition: (Unsure if Change is US only, but you're free to check)

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[VSCDB]

Honestly, petitions usually end up not working out. The best thing you actually can do is write your city/state/country regulators and digital rights groups. The petition still is not completely useless, but usually a weak argument. Cancelling and providing feedback to Google/Alphabet might make some differences and can help, but I believe trying to get the regulators on your side is usually the better and more effective move, also a bit more time consuming tho.

The recommendation on the site to use F-Droid is good, would maybe add Aurora tho, since F-Droid does not include most closed source apps. This fight is very important, but even if they lock it down, I think many of the custom ROMs like GrapheneOS will still allow it, and wont be too effected by this change. But it will further break already known issues with banking apps and the like. In the long run we might get an usable linux phone OS. Best is to sign the petition as well as getting active via writing your local and national regulators and regulatory instances, and if you do have a following, making this more public on social media is also a good move.

 

[RageWolf1911]

If anyone would like a quick copy & paste message to send their representatives, I took the information from the linked site and just changed the wording to be more "first person-ish"

You are welcome to use it, or write your own as well.

In August 2025, Google announced that as of September 2026, it will no longer be possible to develop apps for the Android platform without first registering centrally with Google. This registration will involve:

- Paying a fee to Google
- Agreeing to Google’s Terms and Conditions
- Providing government identification
- Uploading evidence of the developer’s private signing key
- Listing all current and future application identifiers

As consumers, we purchased our Android devices believing in Google’s promise that it was an open computing platform and that we could run whatever software we choose on it. Instead, as of September 2026, they will be non-consensually pushing an update to our operating systems that irrevocably blocks this right and leaves us at the mercy of their judgement over what software we are permitted to trust.

 Creators would no longer be able develop an app and share it directly with their friends, family, and community without first seeking Google’s approval. The promise of Android — and a marketing advantage it has used to distinguish itself against the iPhone — has always been that it is “open”. But Google clearly feels that they have enough of a lock on the Android ecosystem, along with sufficient regulatory capture, that they can now jettison this principle with prejudice and impunity.

The states would be ceding the rights of their citizens and their own digital sovereignty to a company with a track record of complying with the extrajudicial demands of authoritarian regimes to remove perfectly legal apps that they happen to dislike. The software that is critical to the running of businesses and governments will be at the mercy of the opaque whims of a distant and unaccountable corporation.

I personally believe that this is a breach of trust between Google, and all involved parties that we should not stand for.

Please send a written acknowledgment of this report to [INSERT EMAIL ADDRESS HERE]

 

[Ttian]

Ah, thats upsetting. The reason I like android is being able to not use the play store.

 

[RageWolf1911]

Ah, thats upsetting. The reason I like android is being able to not use the play store.

And it's one of their biggest selling points is the freedom to install 3rd party apps outside of the Play Store. If they get rid of that, even more android users will just go to Apple because what's the point of staying on Android then?

 

[VSCDB]

If anyone would like a quick copy & paste message to send their representatives, I took the information from the linked site and just changed the wording to be more "first person-ish"

You are welcome to use it, or write your own as well.

In August 2025, Google announced that as of September 2026, it will no longer be possible to develop apps for the Android platform without first registering centrally with Google. This registration will involve:

- Paying a fee to Google
- Agreeing to Google’s Terms and Conditions
- Providing government identification
- Uploading evidence of the developer’s private signing key
- Listing all current and future application identifiers

As consumers, we purchased our Android devices believing in Google’s promise that it was an open computing platform and that we could run whatever software we choose on it. Instead, as of September 2026, they will be non-consensually pushing an update to our operating systems that irrevocably blocks this right and leaves us at the mercy of their judgement over what software we are permitted to trust.

 Creators would no longer be able develop an app and share it directly with their friends, family, and community without first seeking Google’s approval. The promise of Android — and a marketing advantage it has used to distinguish itself against the iPhone — has always been that it is “open”. But Google clearly feels that they have enough of a lock on the Android ecosystem, along with sufficient regulatory capture, that they can now jettison this principle with prejudice and impunity.

The states would be ceding the rights of their citizens and their own digital sovereignty to a company with a track record of complying with the extrajudicial demands of authoritarian regimes to remove perfectly legal apps that they happen to dislike. The software that is critical to the running of businesses and governments will be at the mercy of the opaque whims of a distant and unaccountable corporation.

I personally believe that this is a breach of trust between Google, and all involved parties that we should not stand for.

Please send a written acknowledgment of this report to [INSERT EMAIL ADDRESS HERE]

Lovely. Thank you.

Post automatically merged: Mar 4, 2026

And it's one of their biggest selling points is the freedom to install 3rd party apps outside of the Play Store. If they get rid of that, even more android users will just go to Apple because what's the point of staying on Android then?

I hope the movement for a useable Linux OS would be an alternative, sadly from all I can see it will likely not be. Might be in 5-10 years but don't see that right now. And the most important thing to actually get users, would be to support most applications which users are used to natively, and at best APKs as well. But all of that is wishful thinking.

 

[Narch]

We should enforce the point of monopoly as well when sending emails since govs probably do want the extra monitoring.

 

[VSCDB]

For the emails it might work quite well if written correctly. I think the monopoly argument is probably not useable long term tho since Apple basically already has the same system. Would likely not be a monopoly problem, maybe conflict of interest, and honestly, even less with that much open corruption in the higher command of government.

 

[Narch]

For the emails it might work quite well if written correctly. I think the monopoly argument is probably not useable long term tho since Apple basically already has the same system. Would likely not be a monopoly problem, maybe conflict of interest, and honestly, even less with that much open corruption in the higher command of government.

There's many companies suing Apple exactly for that with the US gov investigating them over the issue. It may not work but it's worth tying it to the issue specially to get the attention of those who are already suffering with Apple

 

[VSCDB]

There's many companies suing Apple exactly for that with the US gov investigating them over the issue. It may not work but it's worth tying it to the issue specially to get the attention of those who are already suffering with Apple

No for sure. Thought the lawsuits against apple with that was over, might have missed that. But yes, a general fight against it is a very good idea.

Post automatically merged: Mar 4, 2026

Pressed send to early...
And its very good that it's actually being done. Just saying, legally right now this argument probably won't go far in the US right now. Didn't mean to say its not worth fighting for tho, every bit of pressure helps, and will long term bring more chances for change.

 

[Mr.LewdRim]

I could see this coming. Just face it we have no rights anymore. Too many people are fine with privileges (which are easily stripped). Just purchasing something now a days does not mean it is yours. These company's soon will tell you what time of day you can actually use your device. Just wait.

 

[RageWolf1911]

Well, I at least did my part yesterday. Signed the petition, and sent letters to every one of my representatives. May lead to nothing, but at least I can say I tried.