Android Developer Verification Rollout Begins Ahead of September Enforcement

Key Points:

• Google is rolling out Android developer verification globally to combat harmful apps distributed anonymously, starting with a mandate in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand this September before expanding worldwide next year.
• Developers distributing apps outside Google Play must create an account in the Android Developer Console to verify their identity, while those verified on Google Play may already be compliant.
• Regular users will experience no change when installing apps, but installing unregistered apps will require an advanced authentication flow with a 24-hour waiting period to prevent scams, aimed primarily at power users.
• Android Studio will soon display app registration status within the IDE, and developers with verified Play Console accounts will have eligible apps automatically registered, with manual claiming available if needed.
• Separately, Apple updated its Developer Program License Agreement to restrict third-party wearables from using or sharing live activity and notification data for advertising or profiling, emphasizing strict privacy protections and prohibiting cloud storage or data decryption outside the accessory.