While I am against the policy, Google only publishes developer's full legal name and email address if the app is monetized [0].

If the app is monetized, then the full mailing address is shared.

If money is involved, it’s fair for users to know who they’re dealing with. Developers who want to hide their personal identity can still do so legally with a shell company.

Taking it a step further, if I am going to run your code on my device, I want to know who I'm giving access to my data/cpu/hardware.

Just like with offline transactions, customers should know who they are giving money to.

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> Google will display your legal name, your country (as per your legal address) and developer email address on Google Play. If you decide to monetise on Google Play, then Google will display your full address.

[0] - https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ...

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dns_snek 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

All of those are fine things to expect from Google Play but the point is moot because this verification would also apply to apps installed from external sources where they shouldn't have any jurisdiction.

Google, just like Apple, should be free to enforce any kind of verification they deems necessary on Google Play, as long as they allow third party stores to be on equal footing, which they don't.

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itake 2 days ago | parent [-]

I agree. we should be able to install apps we want to install. But if you're installing them from the Google Play store (which is what is discussed) then you should be allowed to know who you're doing business with.

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dns_snek 2 days ago | parent [-]

> But if you're installing them from the Google Play store (which is what is discussed)

Maybe there's been a miscommunication somewhere but Android Developer Verification (what this thread is about) applies to all apps, even those installed outside of Google Play store.

	▲	itake a day ago \| parent [-]
		I understand. The author is critiquing a specific part of this policy: forcing developers to identify themselves. Their main point is not about allowing app developers to sideload.

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quikoa 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Small developers need to be easy to contact. Meanwhile Google is notorious for being difficult to get human support. Seems fair.