These requirements will go into effect first in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand starting September 2026.
Google has announced plans to verify the identities of all Android app developers in order for their apps to be installed by users on Android devices.
Malicious actors can impersonate developers and create convincing fake apps that install malware on the unaware user’s phone. Google noted that recent attacks have targeted users’ financial data through malware and scams.
Moreover, through an analysis, the company found more than 50 times more malware from internet-sideloaded sources than on apps available through Google Play. Sideloading is the installation of apps without using the device’s official application distribution method.
To heighten security, Google is making developer verification mandatory. This requirement is necessary for all Android app developers and not just those publishing apps on Google Play.
Early access for registrations will begin gradually starting this October. From September 2026, these requirements will go into effect in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. From 2027 and beyond, these will be in effect globally.
Google has received positive feedback from organisations and governments about this new security measure.
“This creates crucial accountability, making it much harder for malicious actors to quickly distribute another harmful app after we take the first one down,” said Google.
It said that verification requirements on Google Play, which were implemented in 2023, were helpful in stopping bad actors from distributing malware, committing financial fraud and stealing sensitive data.
Expanding the process to Android will provide a “consistent, common sense baseline of developer accountability”, it added.
Google is building a new Android developer console for developers who only distribute apps outside of Google Play so they can complete their verification. The company is also making a different type of console specifically for student and hobbyist developers.
In 2022, Google introduced Apple-like data privacy labels that showed users what type of data is collected by an app, for what reason and whether it is being shared by third parties.
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