#android developer verification

Newpipe has released a blog post talking about the new android developer verification program

Direct from the blog

“This is not a fun blog post to write, believe me. Androids future is dear to our heart, and we believe that one of its main aspects was its openness, clearly separating it from Apple’s iOS as the better choice for every tinkerer and developer.

For the past few years Google has continuously taken steps to remove this openness, and now it hit us. Google plans to force developers to become registered developers and submit their personal data during the registration process. By doing so, Google does no only collect data, but more importantly can decide who is allowed to create and publish apps for “registered” devices or not.”

More

“We will not enroll in this privacy violating program and give up the anonymity of our developers. We do not want to be at the mercy of Google to allow our app to work. And you should not be content with this restriction either. Follow the steps outlined at keepandroidopen.com and resist this further lock-down of your device.”

“Coinciding with this blog posts, we released a new update to NewPipe, where we introduced a pop up also notifying users there that they will need to take steps in order to keep using NewPipe.”

Newpipe will be unavailable on certified android devices when September arrives

Go to this website to learn how to fight against the android developer verification program

Google’s new restrictions on Android sideloading represent a structural shift toward tighter platform control, limiting the traditional freedom to install apps outside official stores. For more than a decade, Android differentiated itself from other mobile ecosystems through openness. Users could install applications directly through APK files without relying exclusively on the Play Store.…

This is our six mont warning to abandon Google. Do not assume we will get another.

If you have not been aware of the situation, I am sure the link explains it better than I will here.

Google has decided that they get to decide what is available through third parties. That if you publish somewhere other than Google, you should still hand your identity over to Google. As you can imagine, this is unacceptable.

Google knows they have an effective duopoly and are flexing their power. I cannot stop them, nor do I believe regulation is a sufficient deterent. So. I am in the process of leaving.

These three months for me are about detangling my email and file storage. The next three months will be about acquiring a new phone.

I strongly reccomend... no, strongly beg you all to make similar efforts.