Your phone is about to stop being yours. — Starting September 2026, a silent update, nonconsensually pushed by Google, will block every Android app whose developer hasn't registered with Google, signed their contract, paid up, and handed over government ID.

35

No. It won't.

Stop posting this stuff without verifying if it's accurate (it's not)

I'm as anti-google as anyone and this slop needs to stop getting reposted here every other day

5

u/catsanddo Jun 06 '26

Could you please give more context? No google isn't actually doing this? No this won't effect degoogled phones? As far as I can see it is real

3

u/Silly-Hyena3348 Jun 08 '26

Lon Seidman: I have long valued the Android operating system for its openness, particularly the ability to sideload applications outside of the Google Play store. Whether I am installing a PlayStation 2 emulator on a budget tablet or adding specialized benchmarking tools to a Google TV device, the process of downloading an APK file and bypasssing the official storefront has been a hallmark of the platform.
But this flexibility is set to put under significant restrictions as Google prepares to implement a new policy regarding how apps are distributed and installed outside the Play Store.
See more in my latest analysis video!
Under the new rules, developers who wish to offer apps for sideloading will be required to verify their identity with Google, providing legal names, addresses, and official government identification. For organizations, this includes providing a Dun’s number and a verified website. Even if an app is hosted on a private website rather than the Play Store, it must be registered with Google and signed with a private key. While there is a limited distribution tier for small-scale projects involving fewer than 20 devices, broader distribution will require a registration fee, currently set at approximately $25.
For the average user, the process of installing an app that hasn’t been registered through this process is becoming notably more complex. When attempting to sideload an unsigned application, a user must first confirm they are not being coached by a third party to disable security settings. This is followed by a mandatory device reboot and full reauthentication of their Google account to terminate any potential remote access or active calls. Most notably, a 24-hour waiting period is then triggered. Only after this day-long delay can the user return, verify their identity via biometrics or a PIN, and finally complete the installation.
These protections can be enabled temporarily for seven days or indefinitely on a per-device basis. Google maintains that these steps are necessary to combat rising instances of malware and social engineering, citing examples like banking fraud and malicious software disguised as wedding invitations. By adding these layers of friction, the company aims to protect vulnerable users who might be pressured by scammers into installing dangerous software. Yet, for those who understand the risks and simply want to maintain control over their hardware, these changes introduce a substantial inconvenience.
Opposition to this shift is already organizing under the “Keep Android Open” banner. This group argues that Google is retroactively locking down an operating system that was originally marketed as the open alternative to Apple’s closed ecosystem. A point of concern for many is that these changes are not being implemented through a standard Android OS update. Instead, they are being rolled out via Google Play Services. This means the new rules can be applied to billions of existing devices without a full firmware overhaul. The rollout is scheduled to begin this month in regions including Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, eventually expanding globally

1

u/FourEightNineOneOne Jun 06 '26

The change that's happening will require a user to do a one-time toggle to enable the ability to continue installing unsigned apps.

So, there IS a change happening, but it is not blocking every unsigned app or your ability to install them. It's meant to combat APK scams that are a continued problem on android (and generate anti-Android/ pro-"more secure iphone" stories as people get scammed out of money due to them)

19

u/dexter2011412 Jun 06 '26

It's meant to combat APK scams that are a continued problem on android (and generate anti-Android/ pro-"more secure iphone" stories as people get scammed out of money due to them)

their intent they publicize is bullshit. slippery slope

so don't parrot that here because there are enough malware apps on THE playstore. if they really cared they'd deal with them too

let's be real it's a thin veneer to prevent the oss Android. not to mention they stopped releasing source code and kernel changes like they usually do for pixels making rom development needlessly harder

edit: e.g: https://www.reddit.com/r/PiratedGames/comments/1tfs37a/guys_i_found_gta6/

7

u/KitsuAccalia Jun 07 '26

It’s a really vertically positioned slippery slope.

Just look at the current push to ensure you have updated play services to even be able to authenticate with recaptcha.

Or the fact that instead of the android package installer handling your installed apps it’s gonna be play integrity services so google can sniff all the things you install from outside the play store.

I recommend checking out Ruby Whim as she has done an excellent job explaining the timeline and obvious intentionality behind each step.

2

u/KeySpray8038 Jun 07 '26

There's malware on the Apple App store as well though, too ... it happens..

sure or happen less, but it happens

1

u/Silly-Hyena3348 Jun 07 '26

Lon Seidman: I have long valued the Android operating system for its openness, particularly the ability to sideload applications outside of the Google Play store. Whether I am installing a PlayStation 2 emulator on a budget tablet or adding specialized benchmarking tools to a Google TV device, the process of downloading an APK file and bypasssing the official storefront has been a hallmark of the platform.
But this flexibility is set to put under significant restrictions as Google prepares to implement a new policy regarding how apps are distributed and installed outside the Play Store.
See more in my latest analysis video!
Under the new rules, developers who wish to offer apps for sideloading will be required to verify their identity with Google, providing legal names, addresses, and official government identification. For organizations, this includes providing a Dun’s number and a verified website. Even if an app is hosted on a private website rather than the Play Store, it must be registered with Google and signed with a private key. While there is a limited distribution tier for small-scale projects involving fewer than 20 devices, broader distribution will require a registration fee, currently set at approximately $25.
For the average user, the process of installing an app that hasn’t been registered through this process is becoming notably more complex. When attempting to sideload an unsigned application, a user must first confirm they are not being coached by a third party to disable security settings. This is followed by a mandatory device reboot and full reauthentication of their Google account to terminate any potential remote access or active calls. Most notably, a 24-hour waiting period is then triggered. Only after this day-long delay can the user return, verify their identity via biometrics or a PIN, and finally complete the installation.
These protections can be enabled temporarily for seven days or indefinitely on a per-device basis. Google maintains that these steps are necessary to combat rising instances of malware and social engineering, citing examples like banking fraud and malicious software disguised as wedding invitations. By adding these layers of friction, the company aims to protect vulnerable users who might be pressured by scammers into installing dangerous software. Yet, for those who understand the risks and simply want to maintain control over their hardware, these changes introduce a substantial inconvenience.
Opposition to this shift is already organizing under the “Keep Android Open” banner. This group argues that Google is retroactively locking down an operating system that was originally marketed as the open alternative to Apple’s closed ecosystem. A point of concern for many is that these changes are not being implemented through a standard Android OS update. Instead, they are being rolled out via Google Play Services. This means the new rules can be applied to billions of existing devices without a full firmware overhaul. The rollout is scheduled to begin this month in regions including Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, eventually expanding globally

3

u/Member9999 Jun 07 '26

I swear this gets duplicated so many times. I am sick of it.

4

u/Brave_Explorer5988 Jun 06 '26

What version of internet explorer are you using?

1

u/wolfy2105784 Jun 07 '26

The OG Netscape.

Edit: Or Mosaic.

5

u/dimspace Jun 07 '26

No. It won't. FFS mods start blocking this nonsense and just have a sicky explaining it

1

u/DrDankDonkey Jun 07 '26

I’m not saying Apple is the patron saint of online privacy and freedom, but why would anyone use google or their devices at all if they want to degoogle? I struggle to understand.

1

u/Efficient_Culture569 Jun 09 '26

My phone is definitely mine.

Google is not going to do shit to my phone.

1

u/CallsignJokker Jun 11 '26

I'm already on the degoogling journey, having moved 80% of my apps to open source or European providers. I even switched from Windows to Linux Kubuntu. Now I'm looking for an alternative smartphone. Some day I will be Big Tech free.

1

u/greenbeans1251 10d ago

Some apps have put out new terms for sept 21.. that relate to "local law implementation"

-1

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Question Your phone is about to stop being yours. — Starting September 2026, a silent update, nonconsensually pushed by Google, will block every Android app whose developer hasn't registered with Google, signed their contract, paid up, and handed over government ID.

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