Google cracks down! APKs, ROMs, and Emulators banned — is Android freedom over?
m.economictimes.com
Google is implementing a significant policy shift, banning unverified APKs, ROMs, and certain emulators on certified Android devices starting in 2026. This move, aimed at enhancing security and combating malware, will restrict app distribution to verified developers. Critics argue this move curtails Android's famed openness, potentially impacting custom ROMs and retro gaming enthusiasts.

If I am already using a rooted but proprietary smartphone (Samsung Galaxy S23), downloading my apps from other sources than Google Play, how would Google be able to control what I do with it? If necessary, I could just stay on my current OS build as well. All in all, while politically and philosophically, Google’s new policy is bad, I don’t feel threatened by it with my current understand of the situation and technology…

    • Mark with a Z@suppo.fi
      3·
      6 hours ago

      Reversing malicious changes is an extra burden. Google has been slowly making everything worse for years and the forks haven’t been able to do much about it.

    • INeedMana@piefed.zipEnglish
      3·
      7 hours ago

      I’m guessing that maintaining such forks would be prohibitive. Especially since they do have resources to play cat and mice

      But I don’t really know much about Android code, I’m just relying what I’ve heard