Google is implementing new developer registration requirements for all Android apps by September 2026, including those distributed outside the Play Store. Developers must provide legal names, addresses, government IDs, and app signing keys through Google's portal. F-Droid, a major open-source app repository, calls this a death sentence as it forces developers to either register with Google (paying fees and sharing personal information) or stop distributing apps. The policy threatens thousands of open-source apps and millions of users who rely on alternative app stores. While Google justifies this as a security measure against malware, critics argue it's about control, especially given the timing after the Epic lawsuit forced Google to allow alternative app stores.