Google has started requiring developer verification for installing applications on the Android system, including those obtained outside the Play Store. This new guideline began to be applied in Brazil and three other nations in September 2026.
The change provoked negative reactions from digital rights advocacy groups and prompted the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (Cade) to request clarification on the potential impacts for independent developers and competing stores.
Announced in August 2025, Android Developer Verification requires app creators to prove their identity and register their programs with Google. The rule applies to devices running Android 7 or later versions, even when apps are distributed through alternative means.
The policy came into effect on September 30 in Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore. Google justified the measure by claiming it serves to combat malicious software and fraud. In response to Cade, the company stated that it had detected nine times more malware from external sources compared to what it finds on Google Play.
The company argued to the regulatory body that ADV is an action 'necessary and proportional to the exponential growth of malware associated with the evolution of AI.'
For users who use the official store or major manufacturer stores, the changes should be minimal. However, those who access APK files, independent repositories, or developer websites may need to go through extra procedures.
Installation through these channels, known as sideloading, remains possible. One technical option involves using the Android Debug Bridge, while another requires waiting 24 hours, enabling developer mode, and confirming identity on the device itself.
Cade initiated an inquiry in 2024 to determine if Google is using its dominant position on Android to harm Play Store rivals. In September 2026, the council requested details about the costs, timelines, and effects of this verification on independent developers.
The responses provided by Google were not sufficient to convince Article 19 and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), who called for a temporary suspension of the policy while the investigation proceeds.
In a statement to the body, these entities argued that 'Google's objective with the Developer Policy is to consolidate itself as the only reliable option, discrediting competitors that depend on the Android ecosystem to reach users.'
The objections raised by the entities focus on three possible ramifications: Google's forecast to extend verification to the rest of the world in 2027, the continuation of the Brazilian investigation into the new rules, and the general impacts of the policy.