Google plans to exempt sanctioned nations from Android developer verification
Google is implementing a new developer verification system that requires Android app creators to provide identification and pay a fee. However, the company has confirmed that developers in sanctioned nations like Iran and Cuba will be exempt from these checks, allowing them to continue distributing apps.
Why it matters
This policy balances Google's need for platform security with the practical realities of operating in regions subject to international trade sanctions.
Installation blocked Google plans to exempt sanctioned nations from Android developer verification Someone in Cuba or Iran can keep installing APKs with no new restrictions, but devs will suffer.
2 Credit: Ryan Whitwam Credit: Ryan Whitwam Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav We are a month away from the initial rollout of Google’s Android developer verification system, and the company contends this policy does not impinge on the platform’s open nature. Still, the restrictions will be a big change, and there are still some unanswered questions. An issue that has come up repeatedly in the run-up to verification is what will happen to devs who can’t verify because of where they live. It turns out that Google has a cryptic answer for that buried in an FAQ.
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