Keep Android Open
Google is quietly dismantling the open-source foundation of Android. Billions of users and millions of developers are at risk of losing the freedom to choose what runs on their own devices.
What is happening to Android?
Android was built on a promise: an open platform where anyone could build, distribute, and run software without asking permission. Google is breaking that promise — and doing it piece by piece.
Mandatory Developer Registration
Google now requires all Android app developers — including independent, hobbyist, and FOSS developers — to register centrally with Google using government-issued ID and pay a fee, even if they never use the Play Store.
FOSS Ecosystems Under Threat
Projects like F-Droid — which provide a privacy-respecting, Google-free alternative app store — are directly threatened. Developers who cannot or will not comply face being locked out of the platform entirely.
A Walled Garden in the Making
These policies are transforming Android into an iOS-style walled garden where Google is the sole arbiter of what software users can install.
Slower AOSP, Wider Gaps
Google shifted AOSP releases from quarterly to twice-yearly. This widens the gap between Google's development and the open-source community.
This affects everyone — not just developers
You might think this is only a developer problem. It isn't. Every person who uses an Android device is affected when the platform that powers their phone becomes a controlled, permission-gated environment.
Open Android has always meant user choice: the freedom to install apps from any source, to run custom firmware, to use a device you legally own however you choose.
The open-source ecosystem also underpins the security and privacy tools millions rely on daily.
Lose the ability to install apps outside of Google's approved marketplace.
Face mandatory registration, fees, and identity disclosure just to ship code.
Many cannot meet Play Store policies — they will vanish from certified devices.
What you can do right now
You don't need to be a developer to make a difference. Every voice, every share, and every message to a lawmaker counts.
Sign the Open Letter
Add your name alongside thousands of developers and users demanding Google reverse these policies.
Sign now →Contact Your Lawmakers
Write to your representative and tell them you want open platforms protected by law.
Find your rep →Spread the Word
Share #KeepAndroidOpen on social media. Most people have no idea this is happening.
Share on X →Arcbase stands with the open-source community
At Arcbase, we believe that the future of computing depends on open platforms and free software. Android's open foundation has enabled an entire generation of developers, privacy tools, and alternative ecosystems to thrive. We refuse to stand by while that foundation is eroded.
We are proud to support the #KeepAndroidOpen movement and encourage everyone in our community to do the same.
Join the movement