Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
TL;DR Google has published a new blog post insisting that sideloading on Android isn’t going anywhere.
The company reiterated that its new developer verification requirements are meant to improve safety, not to limit user choice.
However, Google failed to address concerns recently brought forward by independent app platforms like F-Droid.
After pushback from independent app stores like F-Droid, Google has published a new blog post clarifying its stance on sideloading apps on Android.
In a post titled “Let’s talk security: Answering your top questions about Android developer verification,” Google reiterated that its upcoming developer verification requirements are meant to improve safety, not to limit user choice. The company said the new system, which ties every Android app to a verified developer identity, will make it harder for bad actors to impersonate developers or spread malware through apps.
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The company insisted that sideloading is here to stay, which has been one of the biggest questions Android enthusiasts have been asking. F-Droid recently warned that Google’s new rules could make it impossible for open-source app repositories to survive. However, Google says sideloading is not at risk at all.
“Sideloading is fundamental to Android, and it is not going away,” the company wrote in the blog post. “Our new developer identity requirements are designed to protect users and developers from bad actors, not to limit choice,” the post added.
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