Comment by prameshbajra
10 days ago
> We want to make sure that if you download an app, it’s truly from the developer it claims to be published from, regardless of where you get the app. Verified developers will have the same freedom to distribute their apps directly to users through sideloading or through any app store they prefer.
This makes no sense at all.
Not to mention this doesn't even solve the problem. What's preventing someone from registering and then releasing an app with a similar name to a famous app? Sure, the registration means there's someone you can sue, but it doesn't allow the user to identify the publisher. A "verified publisher" field when you're installing an app would solve both issues (similar to windows[1]), and not require every app developer to register with google.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:User_Account_Control.png
Microsoft does make you register with them to get verified though
Classic strawman argument and corporate tactics of shifting the conversation without addressing real concerns.
Somewhat unrelated: Do you think the UK government and Google have the same PR team?
Thought: Maybe we can organise and collectively hire this PR team to get Google, other big tech, and our governments, to look bad... And get shit done that way... If 2025 is the year of the PR spin, surely the only counter-measure is counter-spin?
Edit: Hold on, I think I just re-invented the concept of a political party.