Respected chairperson,

Google has announced [1] that as of September 2026, it will no longer be possible to develop apps for the Android platform without first registering centrally with Google. We, the users, believe that this gives Google an unwarranted authority over what the we can or cannot install over our devices. It also imposes a barrier for entry into mobile development.

This also means that Google supersedes the state authority over what is trusted and what's not. The government and by extension it's citizens are not longer digitally sovereign. Please look at https://keepandroidopen.org and https://keepandroidopen.org/open-letter/ to see the issues documented in detail and the list of organizations that have undersigned the same.

We hope to see an India that is digitally sovereign [2] and does not require a foreign company dictating what we can or cannot do with our digital devices. 

1. https://developer.android.com/developer-verification

2. https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/government-free-software.html

Good start. I think the following article from GNU can also be linked to emphasize the software freedom to the Government https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/government-free-software.html

Looks good. If you want to get "official" FSCI approval, create a poll so people can vote on it? (Start a Vote → Consensus probably)

Slightly tricky angles to be pushing.

"foreign control" is a problem: "Yes yes, lets have domestic control".

"state authority over what is trusted": "Yes yes, lets have the government approve apps".

We seem to be pursuing social-governmental angles in matters of individual rights, and sometimes vice versa too.

I agree but the poll ended a couple of minutes ago :(

Even if CCI restrict Google in an unlikely scenario it can take a long time to realize. I think we have to go to the root of the issue - Google (and apple) having the final say in Operating Systems. In case of Windows on PC, availability of GNU/Linux was enough to counter as installing another OS was not prevented. But on smart phones the level of difficulty is much much higher, only limited number of old models can have custom roms, mostly expensive models. So I think we should more aggressively promote GNU/Linux mobile (Mobian, PostmarketOS etc) as an alternative. What do you think?

I think just sending a mail to CCI is too meek of action from our side. Developers can resist verification, but we lose out on users.

At least for users there is nothing much to do, I proposed we do a boycott google's android campaign instead.

custom rom plus microg as a middle ground, though ideal would be mobian or postmarketos

custom rom plus android should cover banking apps I guess

we can have levels like 1. custom rom + microg - banking apps 2. custom rom, no gapps 3. droidian / furios 4. mobian / postmarketos + waydroid 5. mobian / postmarketos, no waydroid

Please comment here if you'd like such a campaign.

As for the SFLC side of this (discussed here), Pranay from SFLC told me they considered this issue, but would only consider taking action in a legal forum when there would be a definite statement from Google on when this policy would be implemented in India. (I.e 2027 internationally, per https://keepandroid.open.org)

Until then they are not taking action, and won't seem to help me (for now).