posted in Technology
Google plans to exempt sanctioned nations from Android developer verification
arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/07/google-plans-to-exempt-sanctioned-nations-from-android-developer-verification/
Ars TechnicaGoogle plans to exempt sanctioned nations from Android developer verificationSomeone in Cuba or Iran can keep installing APKs with no new restrictions, but devs will suffer.
Replying to @VITecNet@programming.dev
I’m checking if my VPN has exit nodes in Iran, Cuba, Russia, Belarus, etc
How would that help you?
The article says, "unverified apps will only be easily installable in the sanctioned countries where verification doesn’t exist."
So even if you used a VPN to trick Google into thinking you live in a sanctioned country, you wouldn't be able to distribute apps to those countries without breaking sanctions.
Replying to @modem_down@thebrainbin.org
I don’t want to distribute apps, I just want to be able to install whatever I want on the hardware I own.
Why do people seem to think ungoogled won’t just become ‘unverified’ and the world won’t just keep spinning as usual?
This sucks for anyone with a stock phone, sure.
Oh no, I can’t use my banking app!
Oh no! 🙄 Guess you’ll actively have to remember your balance. The horror.
Replying to @Trampampoline@sh.itjust.works
Computers still exist and they still have browsers and they still work for your bank’s website.
Even in the browser of an unverified phone.
Replying to @mycodesucks@lemmy.world
And how am I going to get past the bank's custom 2FA which requires the phone app?
is this the only way your bank does 2FA? mine also allows for use of physical security keys like yubikey etc
There’s only 4 Dutch banks that still support authenticating without an app, and iirc one of them announced they’re going app-only not long ago:
Replying to @dandi8@fedia.io
You use a different bank. Honestly, if people voted with their feet, these issues wouldn’t be as common