F-Droid Warns Google’s Sideloading Crackdown Threatens Open Source Apps

Google is preparing to launch a developer verification system that could effectively block alternative Android app stores like F-Droid from operating. The free software repository warns that Google’s plan to require all Android developers to register with the company threatens to eliminate sideloading entirely, giving Google complete control over what software users can install on their devices.

Google’s Verification Program Threatens FOSS Distribution

Google’s upcoming verification system, scheduled to begin testing in select markets next month, would require all Android developers to register their identity and apps with Google. Apps that haven’t been validated through this process will become uninstallable on certified Android devices worldwide. According to F-Droid’s official statement, this represents an existential threat to free and open-source software distribution on Android.

“We cannot require developers to register with Google, nor can we take over app identifiers to register for them,” F-Droid explained. The platform, which has operated for 15 years as the largest FOSS repository for Android, compiles apps directly from source code after verification. This process ensures apps are free from tracking and invasive advertising, but conflicts directly with Google’s proposed centralized verification model. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has warned that such requirements could severely limit user freedom and software diversity.

Security Justification Versus Market Control

Google defends its verification program as necessary security measure, citing malware concerns in sideloaded applications. The company points to its own security research showing that apps outside official stores pose higher risks. However, F-Droid counters that Google Play itself has repeatedly faced malware scandals, including the discovery that millions of malware installations originated from the official store last year.

“Google is using security as a mask for what is really an attempt to consolidate monopoly power,” F-Droid asserts. The timing is particularly significant as Google faces court-mandated changes to the Play Store following its antitrust loss to Epic Games. While courts are forcing Google to open its distribution system, the new verification requirements could maintain Google’s central role by controlling which apps can be installed through any method.

Financial Barriers and Developer Impact

The verification program appears likely to include registration fees that could price out independent developers. During the early access signup process, Google asks developers if they can pay registration fees in US dollars, indicating costs will be involved. This creates particular problems for FOSS developers who typically distribute their work for free and operate without commercial funding.

F-Droid notes that many developers in its ecosystem “give their apps away for free and would be uninterested in paying Google for the privilege.” The financial barrier could eliminate countless valuable applications that don’t generate revenue. According to F-Droid’s statistics, the platform currently hosts over 4,000 applications maintained by thousands of developers worldwide, many of whom work on projects as volunteers.

Regulatory Intervention as Potential Solution

F-Droid is calling on regulators in the United States and European Union to intervene before Google’s verification system takes effect globally. The organization specifically suggests invoking the European Commission’s Digital Markets Act, which designates Google as a “gatekeeper” and requires it to maintain fair access to digital markets. The DMA already mandates that gatekeepers must allow third-party software to be installed and used alongside their own services.

The timeline provides a narrow window for action. While the pilot program launches in October 2025 with limited markets including Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, full global implementation isn’t expected until 2027. This gives regulators approximately one year to assess whether Google’s verification requirements constitute anti-competitive behavior under existing antitrust frameworks.

F-Droid urges concerned developers and users to contact government representatives, emphasizing that device owners should retain the fundamental right to decide what software runs on their hardware. The organization warns that without regulatory intervention, Google could effectively eliminate the entire ecosystem of alternative Android app distribution within two years.