Google is eliminating independent developers at a massive scale — and it's happening quietly, automatically, and without accountability. We demand the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and global regulators investigate Google's enforcement system and protect small developers from unfair and abusive practices.

I'm One of Those Developers
Google banned my account after falsely claiming I had illegal content in my Drive. I was testing my own NSFW detection app, Punge (iOS, Android), using a research dataset from Academic Torrents—a legitimate platform used by researchers worldwide. The moment I was suspended, I told Google exactly where the dataset came from. I gave them full access to my files and logs. I contacted their executives directly.

Google ignored me. They deleted over 130,000 of my files—190 times more than the actual contamination later confirmed by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. My apps are still live in the Play Store, but I can't update them, fix bugs, or respond to users. Eventually, they'll break—and Google will remove them for being "abandoned."

And here's the most damning part: the dataset I warned Google about stayed online for two more months until I reported it to child safety authorities. Not Google—the company that claims to be a global leader in child protection. Me.

I'm not alone. This is happening to thousands of developers—and most of them never did anything wrong.

The Scale of the Problem
In 2024 alone, Google banned more than 158,000 developer accounts, many for trivial or unavoidable reasons. Developers have been permanently removed for:

Logging in from a public or unsecured WiFi network
Using a laptop or device previously associated with someone else's suspended account
Hiring a tester Google secretly flags as "high risk" but never warns about
Minor metadata inconsistencies or automated false positives
"High Risk Behavior" Google refuses to explain
These aren't malicious actors. These are students, hobbyists, parents, startup founders, unemployed workers retraining for tech, and people trying to lift themselves out of poverty with a new skill. Instead of supporting them, Google's system quietly bans them for life — with no warning, no human review, and no path to recovery.

The Deception
Meanwhile, Google publicly markets itself as "developer-first," showcases indie success stories at I/O, and encourages small creators to build on Google Play, Firebase, and Cloud. But in reality, Google's Terms of Service function as gotcha traps: vague rules that allow Google to terminate anyone, at any time, for reasons no developer can realistically avoid.

This pattern has been documented across thousands of Reddit posts, developer forums, and support threads—but until now, developers have had no way to fight back.

This Isn't About Safety—It's About Power
This isn't about safety—if it were, Google would warn developers before they violate rules.

This isn't about child protection—if it were, Google would have removed the dataset I reported instead of leaving it online for months.

This isn't about fairness—it's about power.

In 2024, a U.S. federal court ruled that Google illegally maintained its search monopoly by using its enormous financial resources to block competition instead of competing on merit. Today, independent developers are experiencing that same pattern. Google prioritizes large corporate partners, who generate billions, while small developers are treated as disposable risks.

What We're Demanding
We are calling for:

A full FTC investigation into Google's developer enforcement practices
Transparency around "High Risk Behavior" flags and automated account bans
Mandatory human review for permanent account closures
Warnings and pre-checks before testers, devices, or networks trigger violations
A real appeals process with meaningful explanations
Protection for independent developers who rely on Google's public promises
What's at Stake
Google helped build the modern app economy — but it is now quietly destroying the part of that ecosystem that made it innovative: independent developers.

We refuse to accept an internet where only giant corporations are allowed to innovate, publish apps, or build new ideas.

Take Action Now
Sign this petition to demand accountability and to protect the future of independent development.

Together, we can pressure regulators, lawmakers, and Google itself to fix a system that was never designed to support us — but can still be changed if enough voices speak out.

Every signature brings us closer to real change. Every share amplifies the voices of developers who have been silenced. Every story shared in the comments builds the evidence regulators need to act.

Sign now. Share widely. Demand justice.