Android has always been known as the open phone system. It is the brand that lets people create apps, share them with friends, and make new ideas without having to go through one company’s approval first. That freedom is what made Android stand out. But Google is now trying to take that away.

Google says that if you do not verify your identity and register your apps by the September deadline, your apps will be blocked from being installed on certified Android devices. This means the days of creating an app and letting people use it freely will be gone. If you are just a hobbyist or a student, you can only use “Limited Distribution,” which has caps on how many people can download your app. Even using Android Debug Bridge to test apps could be changed in the future if Google wants to tighten control more.

Google argues that this is about safety — to stop malware and harmful apps. But the fact is, even Google-verified apps have been shown to slip through. For example, according to a Forbes article from March 2025, about 60 million installs of malicious apps on Google Play happened because 331 apps bypassed Google’s security. This shows verification isn’t a perfect shield, so restricting APK installs and developer freedom isn’t necessarily improving safety; it’s more about central control.

With these new rules, Google could block apps simply because they compete with Google’s own services. For example, an app like Shots Studio, which is a GitHub project similar to Pixel Screenshots, might never be verified just because it competes with Google’s app. Google could also stop alternative weather apps like Weathermaster because they copy features Google once had, like the frog character. They could even block political apps, such as Truth Social, simply because they don’t like the creator. If Google wanted to, they could update Play Protect and make even old versions of these apps stop working.

This is dangerous because it sets a path where Google can decide what you are allowed to use on your own phone. They could remove YouTube alternatives like Rumble or Odysee so there is no competition. They could lock people out of rooting their devices or using older apps that work with old technology. And because everything has to be verified by Google, you would have no way around it.

Android used to mean freedom. It meant being able to try new things, test new ideas, and use your phone how you wanted. These new rules mean that freedom could be gone. Whether you support certain apps or not, everyone should be concerned that one company can have that much control over what we can and cannot install.

We ask Google to stop this policy and keep Android open. Let people continue to sideload apps without having to go through a strict verification process. Do not take away what made Android different from Apple in the first place. Keep Android free and open for all users, developers, hobbyists, a

nd students.