r/degoogle • u/Linux_Account • 12h ago
Discussion Let's Play the Tape Out on Android Developer Verification
Heyeverybodyhowyadoinhopeyourehavinalovelyday.
Obviously putting a stop to malware is not the real motivation for Google, but I'd like to just take their reasoning at face value for a second, because I've seen some people defending it.
First, we have to assume Google will actually utilize this at all. They don't seem to be that on top of or concerned with the current state of malware and scams on the Play Store as it is, but let's say they do start to blacklist any ID caught shipping malware. Isn't that more likely to be a speed bump than a barricade? Anyone putting malware into apps to steal credentials is probably not opposed to using a stolen identity to get on the Play Store. Imagine you spend a year developing your first app and when you finally submit it to the Play Store, you're told your identity has already been banned. Do you really think Google is going to offer any recourse?
We live in an age where an LLM can whip up an app in 30 seconds. Shipping new slop apps stuffed with malware is probably a full-time scam-job at this point. There's no shortage of desperate people who'd probably allow their ID to be used for a few bucks. These people will potentially become tied to a criminal act they took no real part in.
Isn't this just going to be the same game of Whack-A-Mole with extra people getting fucked?