The European Union is taking significant steps to enhance online safety for children and teenagers. According to reports from Android Headlines, this initiative will introduce an age verification application designed to ensure that users are of appropriate age while also verifying the integrity of Android applications through Google’s security framework.
What is known
The forthcoming system will leverage the Google Play Integrity API, a tool that assesses whether an application has been downloaded from the official Google Play store. Applications sourced from alternative platforms will not meet the integrity check, raising concerns among users who prefer custom firmware and often rely on third-party applications or alternative app stores.
- EU users may lose the ability to install APKs from third-party sources;
- The system is still in development, and no final decision has been made;
- The EU assures that control over personal data will remain with the user.
This initiative is part of a comprehensive EU strategy aimed at bolstering digital security and safeguarding minors online. However, it may encounter substantial pushback from the Android community, which values the platform’s inherent freedom and flexibility.
