- More than 40 organizations urge Google to reverse new Android developer policy
- They argue that Google’s “mandatory verification” prohibits anonymous development
- They warn that the policy could endanger those living on restrictive diets.
A coalition of more than 40 privacy-focused organizations and digital rights advocates has launched a furious campaign to stop Google from fundamentally changing the way apps are published on Android.
The group, which includes industry heavyweights like Proton, AdGuard, The Tor Project and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), signed an open letter warning that Google’s new policies threaten the security of developers around the world.
The dispute centers on a policy announced in August 2025, which the coalition says will effectively “lock down” the Android platform by September 2026. According to the open letter published by the As part of the Keep Android Open campaign, Google will require all developers to centrally register with the tech giant to distribute apps, even if those apps are distributed through third-party stores or direct downloads.
For the creators of the best VPN services and privacy tools, this requirement is considered an existential threat. The letter claims that “the forced injection of an alien security model that goes against the open and historic nature of Android threatens innovation, competition, user privacy and freedom.”
The end of anonymous coding?
The heart of the problem lies in the specific requirements demanded by Google. The coalition notes that the registration process involves paying a fee, agreeing to Google’s terms and, most controversially, “providing a government-issued ID.”
For enterprise developers, this may seem like standard procedure. But for the privacy community, this is a dangerous excess. The signatories say mandatory registration creates a “comprehensive database of all Android developers”, raising serious concerns about how this data could be used by authoritarian regimes to target dissidents.
The letter explicitly warns that this barrier to entry harms “activists working for internet freedom in countries that unfairly criminalize this work” and “privacy-focused developers who avoid surveillance ecosystems.” By forcing these individuals to link their physical identity to their code, Google effectively prohibits anonymous contributions to the Android ecosystem.
🚨 Google wants to force all Android developers to register with them, even if you never touch the Play Store. We signed the open letter opposing it alongside the EFF, Proton, F-Droid, Tor Project and over 30 others. Android openness is non-negotiable.https://t.co/vzlPdOc5SaFebruary 24, 2026
Access control beyond the Play Store
What makes this policy particularly controversial is its scope. Historically, Android has allowed users to “sideload” apps or use alternative marketplaces (like F-Droid) without interference from Google. The coalition says the new policy extends Google’s “controlling authority beyond its own market into distribution channels where it has no legitimate operational role.”
The signatories describe a future in which Google will have the power to disable any app, anywhere in the ecosystem, based on the “opaque whims of a distant and irresponsible company.”
Although Google considers these verification measures necessary for the security of the platform and that of users, the coalition says that existing measures, such as Google Play Protect and sandboxing, are already sufficient. They argue the move is less about security and more about “anti-competitive implications,” allowing Google to collect intelligence on its competitors and consolidate its power.
The letter serves as a final warning before the policy takes full effect. The coalition calls on developers to “resist and refuse” the verification process and urges Google to “immediately rescind the mandatory developer registration requirement.”
If Google doesn’t change course, the signatories warn that “software critical to running your businesses and governments” will be left at the mercy of a single company, dismantling the open principles on which Android was built.
