- Updated: February 24, 2026
- 2 min read
Open Letter to Google Demands End to Mandatory Developer Registration for Android Sideloading
On February 24, 2026 a coalition of civil‑society groups, open‑source advocates, and technology companies released a public letter addressed to Google executives and regulators. The letter opposes Google’s proposed policy that would require every developer distributing Android apps outside of Google Play to register with the company.
The signatories outline six major concerns:
- Gate‑keeping: Mandatory registration could give Google undue control over the open‑source Android ecosystem.
- Barriers to entry: New and small developers may be discouraged by additional administrative steps and potential fees.
- Privacy and surveillance: Collecting developer data could be used for tracking and profiling.
- Arbitrary enforcement: Without clear criteria, Google could selectively block or remove apps.
- Anticompetitive effects: The policy may stifle competition by favoring Google‑approved distribution channels.
- Regulatory scrutiny: The move could attract attention from competition authorities worldwide.
The letter argues that existing Android security mechanisms—such as app signing, Play Protect, and user consent prompts—already provide sufficient protection against malicious software. It calls on Google to rescind the registration requirement, engage with the broader community, and preserve Android’s open nature.
Read the full open letter here.
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Andrii Bidochko
CTO UBOS
Andrii Bidochko is an AI entrepreneur and researcher focused on AI agents, reinforcement learning, and autonomous systems. He writes about the technologies shaping the future of machine intelligence, from frontier models and agent architectures to real-world AI applications.