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Google’s new rules could wipe out sideloading and alternative app stores, F-Droid warns


A photo of a Pixel 7 Pro with the restricted settings dialog showing

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority

TL;DR

  • F-Droid has warned that Google’s new developer verification rules could effectively kill alternative Android app stores.
  • The platform says that Google’s rules are monopolistic and harmful to competition as well as user freedom.
  • F-Droid says the new rules would make Google the gatekeeper of all Android apps, but Google maintains that developers will still be able to distribute their apps directly to users through sideloading or use any app store.

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