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  "path": "/t/google-will-require-developer-verification-to-install-android-apps-including-sideloading/33123?page=26#post_525",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-31T07:47:22.000Z",
  "site": "https://forum.f-droid.org",
  "textContent": "for every nerd that sideloads foss there is probably 100 normies who sideload pirated games, so nah you’re not winning that argument\n\nthe way that they are gaslighting you here is that in reality developer verification has nothing to do with sideloading restriction. developer verfication helps them fight bad actors **in** google play, and boy they have a problem with that, but to not admit to it they pile it together with sideload restriction so they can misdirect from one to another in their rhetoric.\n\n- we need to deanonymize all devs in google play!\n- why? there is lot of malware in google play?\n- nonononono, wait, look over there! so many people sideload malware, this will solve this, cause… ummm… yeah we goona use this same mechanism to restrict sideloading… yeah, that’s it!\n- so this is total lockdown like apple?\n- nonononono, this is **developer** verification for **developers**\n\nthey could have restricted sideloading without developer verification, or vise versa, but that would require them to independently admit 2 extremely negative things\n\n  1. need for developer verification means there is plently of malware in google play\n  2. sidloading restriction usurps eveyones right to use their devices as they see fit, not just developers\n\n",
  "title": "Google will require developer verification to install Android apps, including sideloading"
}