Android developer verification is largely targeting commercial developers, with Google saying that it’s “committed to keeping Android an open platform” for student and hobbyist developers. Google is creating a separate Android developer console to facilitate this, which will place restrictions on the number of apps and installs.

Android apps side-loaded from the internet often come from shady sources. Google will soon identify them and block those of anonymous origins.

Currently, developers who create “sideloaded” Android apps are exempt from Google’s verification requirements.