Bro Google is doing something wild.
Starting September 2026 every Android developer has to give Google their government ID. Legal name. Home address. Phone number. And pay a fee.
Even if they never use the Play Store. Even if they just put their app on their own website.
So basically if you build any app for Android โ Google wants to know exactly who you are. No exceptions.
Brave, EFF, Tor Project and 40 other organizations said no and signed an open letter against it.
And think about who this really hurts. The people building privacy apps, VPNs, encrypted messaging, tools for journalists and activists. People who specifically chose to stay away from Google. Now Google wants their home address.
Google is literally building a database of every person who writes Android software. Run by Google. Controlled by Google.
Android was supposed to be the open system. The alternative to Apple locking everything down.
Slowly it's starting to look the same.
Is Android still actually open? ๐