We, the undersigned, call upon Google to reconsider its policy requiring all app developers, including those who distribute outside the Google Play Store, to undergo mandatory, real-world identity verification by 2027.

​Android was built on the promise of an open ecosystem, where developers and users alike had the freedom to create, share, and install software without a centralized gatekeeper. This new policy fundamentally threatens that core principle. While framed as a security measure, it has severe consequences for the entire Android community:

1) It Eradicates Developer Anonymity: This policy forces independent, open-source, and privacy-conscious developers to surrender their personal information to a corporation. For many, this is a privacy violation and a deterrent to creating and sharing non-commercial software.

2) It Undermines User Freedom: The ability to download apps from any source is a defining feature of Android. By making it difficult and risky to install "unverified" apps, Google is pushing Android toward a restrictive "walled garden" model, removing a user's right to choose and take their own risks.

3) ​It Stifles Innovation: Third-party app stores and direct sideloading have been vital incubators for new ideas and projects. This policy will discourage innovation by making it harder for small developers to experiment and share their work with a broader audience.

We agree that user safety is a priority. However, there is a better way. We urge Google to: 

1) Strengthen existing warnings: Make it even clearer that downloading from unverified sources is a risk, but allow users to proceed with an informed choice.

2) Preserve developer anonymity: Create a pathway for developers to distribute apps without revealing their personal identity, especially for non-profit and open-source projects.

This petition is not a call for an unregulated Wild West; it is a call to preserve the open spirit that made Android the world's most popular operating system. By signing this petition, you are telling Google that user freedom and developer anonymity are not obstacles to security, but essential pillars of a healthy and innovative ecosystem.

By 2027, globally all android devices (no matter it's android level) will not be able to sideload apps entirely.

​Sign this petition to protect the future of an open Android.