Yeah, this is most infuriating thing about this. Other countries could compel any apps they deem bad and ask for identification.

SMS is mostly used for 2-factor authentication, transaction status. Most people use Whatsapp, telegram or whatever messaging app is popular.

What E2EE app do you use?

In today’s digital age its not doable. You need a smartphone if you work, get medical assistance, access social media, do online payments.

Now, if you mentioned using an alternative OS like Linux we can agree.

You do need to submit an ID if your app gets a larger audience. Plus, the account requirement stays. With the way google bans developer accounts I wouldn’t be surprised if your hobby developer gets an axe once a while.

It’s not hard to imagine them abusing/being compelled to limit apps based on regional restrictions or perhaps other apps terms of service. Like newpipe could be nuked out of nowhere assuming it even gets a say since it breaks YouTube’s Terms of service.

Or manga, book reading apps getting the axe due to copyright strike. Plus, the devs could get doxxed again due to copyright strike.

No sane developer should risk submitting this personal information to google for a side or hobby or even a community project.

After all that outcry. They only wrote about devs demanding longer. Conveniently ignoring fdroid’s post among others.

Even for hobby projects you would be required to create a limited developer account and submit government identification if you want to distribute apps to a larger audience.