United Kingdom, Nov. 14 -- Google has softened its stance on upcoming Android sideloading restrictions, announcing new exemptions for students, hobbyists, and experienced users following community backlash over developer verification requirements.

The policy, first unveiled last month, will require developers who distribute Android apps outside the Google Play Store to verify their identity.

Google had said the move is aimed at combating scams, malware, and social engineering attacks that exploit sideloading to trick users into installing malicious apps.

However, critics warned that the rules could harm the open nature of Android by making it harder for independent developers to share apps privately.

In a new blog post, Google acknowl...