1. United States
2. Ore.
3. Letter

I am writing to express serious concern about Google’s planned changes to the Android ecosystem, which threaten to undermine long-standing expectations of openness, privacy, and user control. Beginning in 2026, Google intends to require all app developers, even those distributing apps outside the Play Store, to register with the company, provide identifying information, and comply with new centralized rules before their software can be installed on Android devices. This effectively places a gatekeeper between users and the software they choose to run, eroding the fundamental principle that individuals should control their own devices. While these changes are framed as security improvements, they risk consolidating power in a single corporation and limiting competition, innovation, and independent development across the ecosystem. This shift is deeply troubling from both a consumer rights and public policy perspective. Android has long been marketed as an open platform where users can install software freely, yet these new restrictions move it closer to a closed system where corporate approval dictates what is permissible. It is akin to purchasing a car, only to have the manufacturer later decide which roads you are allowed to drive on. Such a precedent raises serious concerns about digital ownership, privacy, and market fairness. I urge you to investigate these practices and consider regulatory or legislative action to preserve user choice, protect independent developers, and ensure that dominant platforms cannot unilaterally restrict how Americans use the devices they own.