Google's Move to Restrict Android Sideloading Could Face EU Pushback
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https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14622-Digital-Fairness-Act_en
Google has been moving toward prohibiting app installs outside the Play Store. If that becomes the default, users lose choice and developers lose a distribution channel.
This consultation is open to everyone, not just EU citizens.
Submissions that highlight how sideloading and alternative app stores matter for competition, open source, and digital ownership could influence the next round of legislation.
The European Commission is seeking feedback on the Digital Fairness Act, which could impact Google's plans to restrict Android sideloading, with commenters debating the implications for user choice and security.
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If I understand it correctly, it means that you could get a valid developer account and never put your app on the Play Store. Instead people could sideload it.
Those are unacceptable to developers outside of the USA.