Brave is joining a coalition of over 40 organizations, including the EFF and the Tor Project, in a vocal opposition to Google's new developer registration requirements for Android apps. Starting September 2026, all app developers must register with Google and upload government-issued identification, regardless of whether they use the Google Play Store.
The move is seen by critics as a significant threat to the openness of Android's platform and a major privacy risk. Brave argues that this policy overrides user choice and forces developers, many of whom are volunteers building privacy-focused tools, to expose their personal information to Google. This stands in contrast to the spirit of keeping Android Open, which allows users to control software on their devices without Big Tech gatekeeping.
Privacy Concerns Mount
The core of Brave's objection lies in the creation of a centralized database of developer identities controlled by Google. Developers of privacy-first browsers, encrypted messaging apps, VPNs, or tools for journalists in hostile environments would be compelled to submit sensitive personal data. This could deter developers and leave vulnerable users with fewer options.
Brave points to a pattern of Google leveraging its platform dominance to increase control, citing past initiatives like the deprecation of Manifest V2, the AMP Project, and the Privacy Sandbox. Each of these, Brave argues, aimed to insert Google into user-developer interactions where its involvement was not requested, often under the guise of improvement.
A Call for Openness
The open letter signed by Brave and its allies calls on Google to rescind the mandatory registration for developers distributing outside the Play Store. It also urges transparent engagement on security improvements that respect the platform's openness and a commitment to platform neutrality. Brave believes that privacy should be accessible for both users and developers, and this new policy moves Android further away from being an open and private ecosystem, impacting the openness of Android platform.
