F-Droid, the app store, fiercely criticizes Google's statement that 'sideloading will not go away' is clear, concise, and a lie

In response to Google's announcement that it will verify the identities of all Android app developers, alternative app store F-Droid has responded by criticizing Google's additional statement that 'sideloading will not go away,' calling it a complete lie.

What We Talk About When We Talk About Sideloading | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository

In August 2025, Google announced a policy to verify the identity of all app developers through a 'Developer Verification' feature, citing the following reason: 'To reduce the risk of apps containing malware, spyware, or other harmful content.'

In response, F-Droid, an alternative app store that distributes only open and free apps, strongly opposed the move, saying that mandatory developer authentication would mean the end of free and open source app distribution, including F-Droid.

For this reason, Google has published an article on the Android Developer Blog to answer some of these questions.

Android Developers Blog: Let's talk security: Answering your top questions about Android developer verification
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/09/lets-talk-security-answering-your-top.html

In the article, Google posed the question, 'Does this mean sideloading will go away?' regarding the introduction of the Developer Authentication feature, denying it with a 'Absolutely not.' They stated, 'Sideloading is fundamental to Android and is here to stay. Our Developer Authentication requirement is designed to protect users and developers from malicious intent, not to restrict choice. When you download an app, we want to be sure it comes from the developer who claims to publish it, regardless of where you got it. Verified developers have the same freedom to distribute apps directly to users through sideloading or the app store of their choice.'

F-Droid has issued a further rebuttal to Google's statement.

In response to Google's assertion that 'sideloading will not go away,' F-Droid stated, 'Developer authentication effectively removes the ability for individuals to choose which apps run on their devices.' Furthermore, the Wikipedia definition of 'sideloading' is ' the transfer of an app from a source that has not been certified by the vendor ' and 'the transfer and installation of an app from an unofficial source.' Therefore, the new system, in which Google performs developer authentication, simply no longer meets the definition of 'sideloading.'

He also pointed out that from a consumer perspective, Google would force OS updates on users without their consent and decide which apps they could trust.

From a developer's perspective, he said, 'It will no longer be possible to develop apps and share them with friends and family without Google's approval.' He added that he believes that Google, now powerful enough within the ecosystem, can easily abandon the 'openness' that differentiated Android from the iPhone and gave it an advantage.

F-Droid states, 'More than half of humanity uses Android smartphones, but you own your smartphone, not Google. You have the right to decide who to trust and where to get your software from.'