Google Plans To Exempt Sanctioned Nations From Android Developer Verification

Google is set to make a major change to its Android developer verification system, which is scheduled to roll out in a month. The company maintains that this policy does not undermine the openness of its platform, but the new restrictions are expected to be a significant shift and raise several unanswered questions. One particular issue that has emerged repeatedly in the weeks leading up to verification is the plight of developers in sanctioned nations.

A FAQ on Google's developer site provides a cryptic response to this concern. In short, devices in sanctioned countries will be exempt from the verification process, enabling any developer to continue distributing apps without verification in these regions. However, users in these sanctioned nations will not enjoy the enhanced security benefits of the program.

This means that developers from countries like Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and parts of Ukraine, which are currently subject to U.S. sanctions, will be unable to go through the verification process. Consequently, they will not be able to effectively distribute their software internationally. The change implies that these unverified apps will only be easily installable in the sanctioned countries where verification is not available.