- 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 this policy could endanger those living in restrictive regimes
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 such as 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 In 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 argues that “forcibly injecting an alien security model that runs counter to Android’s historically open nature threatens innovation, competition, privacy, and user freedom.”
The end of anonymous coding?
The crux of the matter lies in the specific requirements that Google demands. 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 corporate developers, this may seem like standard procedure. But for the privacy community, it’s a dangerous overreach. The signatories argue that mandatory registration creates a “comprehensive database of all Android developers,” raising serious concerns about how authoritarian regimes could use that data to target dissidents.
The letter explicitly warns that this barrier to entry harms “activists working for Internet freedom in countries that unfairly criminalize that work” and “privacy-focused developers who avoid surveillance ecosystems.” By forcing these people to link their physical identity to their code, Google is effectively banning 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 this along with 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 “download” apps or use alternative marketplaces (such as F-Droid) without interference from Google. The coalition maintains that 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 corporation.”
While Google has presented these verification measures as necessary for the security of the platform and users, the coalition maintains that existing measures, such as Google Play Protect and sandboxing, are already sufficient. They argue that this measure has less to do with security and more to do with “anti-competitive implications,” allowing Google to gather information about 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 reject” the verification process and urges Google to “immediately rescind the mandatory developer registration requirement.”
If Google does not change course, the signatories warn that the “software that is fundamental to the functioning of its companies and governments” will be at the mercy of a single company, dismantling the open principles on which Android was built.
