this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2026
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An Open Letter Opposing Android Developer Verification | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository (f-droid.org)
submitted 3 days ago by monetaryabyss@lemmy.linuxuserspace.show to c/news@lemmy.linuxuserspace.show
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[–] DoucheBagMcSwag@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Uhmmm....

You do realize that this is on the OS level don't you?... It's android itself.

They can remove the Google apps off of their phone but according to the device verification policy, unknown sources not tied to a real verified developer ID will just simply be blocked from installing. Yes that especially includes from F-Droid. Hell you won't even be able to install FDroid.

And Joe schmoe and Johnny Q Public with their Samsung bootloader locked phone will not be able to just "remove this"

Realistically, if this fully rolls out the only users that are going to be able to bypass this will Chinese android users and Pixel PowerUsers running GrapheneOS. All other android OEM manufacturers are going to have a "certified" android build which means developer verification required.

So no. This isn't good for anyone.

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl -5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

No. That's not how it works. Remove gapps (which is the default when you install the OS). Install fdroid. Install app.

Google can push code changes down to ROMs the ROMs can remove it. That's the point of open source. The only problem here is closed source trash like gapps, which will get removed from more phones if this change goes into effect

[–] DoucheBagMcSwag@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Are you talking about custom ROMs? Nobody with an OEM phone is "installing an OS." The OS is already on there

There's no option to refuse Google app when on Android especially the play store

Edit: ah I see you have used the "disagree" button instead of downvote. Real nice. Okay then

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl -1 points 2 days ago

First thing you should do when you buy any device is reinstall the OS. And, by default, gapps is absent.