03/12/2026
Brave is joining the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), The Tor Project and 40+ other organizations in opposing Google's proposed Android developer registry.
Here's why we're taking this stand...
Starting September 2026, Android app devs must register with Google and upload government-issued ID, even if they don't use the Google Play Store.
This decision undermines Android's user-first ecosystem, presents massive privacy risks, and deepens Google’s surveillance economy: https://brave.com/blog/keep-android-open/
Android is an open platform that lets users install apps outside Google Play. For example, they can download Brave via F-Droid to avoid Google's restrictions and tracking. However, by forcing developers to register, Google makes itself the gatekeeper.
Mandatory developer registration is a serious privacy risk. A single corporation would create a database of extensive information on every person who writes Android software. This could cause creators of privacy-preserving apps to leave Android.
Google has a history of proposing mechanisms that expand its control over users and developers. Manifest V2 deprecation, the AMP Project and Privacy Sandbox are just a few recent examples. We opposed each of these proposals and we oppose this developer registry as well.
The open letter we signed asks Google to:
1. Rescind the mandatory registration
2. Engage transparently on security improvements that respect Android's openness
3. Commit to platform neutrality
Privacy should be easy for users and developers alike! https://keepandroidopen.org/open-letter/
