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Google Play has also recently started requiring this, and I know someone affected by it. It is very problematic for small developers because they may have to pu

Google Play has also recently started requiring this, and I know someone affected by it. It is very problematic for small developers because they may have to publish their home address, which opens them up to the possibility of harassment and so on. I don't think it's a good change.

happyopossum 2y ago
> they may have to publish their home address Wouldn’t a PO Box be a better option? They run as little as $10/mo for one at the USPS.
- beeboobaa3 2y ago
  Not allowed.
  - lapcat 2y ago
    It is allowed. I did exactly that for my apps.
    - beeboobaa3 2y ago
      It depends on how you're publishing your apps. If you have a registered business which publishes the app then you can use the business address, so a PO box might be viable. You'll need to make sure your business is registered on that address in your national business registry. Otherwise you are required to give your personal address. See e.g. https://dev.to/svprdga/privacy-nightmare-as-google-plans-to-publish-your-home-address-1g3d https://dev.to/svprdga/privacy-nightmare-as-google-plans-to-... but there are plenty of other sources that match my experience.
      - lapcat 2y ago
        I don't have a registered business. Nonetheless, I used a P.O. Box for my EU trader address in the App Store—a P.O. Box that I opened for this specific purpose—as well as a Google Voice phone number. These were both accepted by Apple and published in the EU.
- rdsnsca 2y ago
  An added expense, for an app that may not be paid.
  - lapcat 2y ago
    If your app is not paid, then you're not a "trader" according to the EU.
    - throw4950sh06 2y ago
      You are according to the EU's rules of digital markets. Any app provider is. If you don't process any personal information, don't have ads or purchases and don't have online backend services... Then you might have a chance of arguing you're not a business. But that's probably so few apps it's worth it to just require everyone to follow the same rules.
      - lapcat 2y ago
        > You are according to the EU's rules of digital markets. Any app provider is. This is simply not true. I've read the regulations, because I had to declare trader status myself.
        throw4950sh06 2y ago
        Read the rest of the comment.
        lapcat 2y ago
        I did. You're wrong. And you don't even have to "argue". It's a self-declaration.
        throw4950sh06 2y ago
        [flagged]
- throw4950sh06 2y ago
  Nope, you can't use that as your legal registered address in EU.
jabart 2y ago
In the US, if you run your own business your business address is public information already in most states. You can use a registered agent address in the US which can keep your personal address off the public record for your business. Most places do not accept a PO Box which is why most use a Registered Agent service.
- lapcat 2y ago
  Do you have a citation? This is not true in my state.
  - jabart 2y ago
    I'm not citing 50 Secretary of States. Delaware has an option to be more private than other states. Though if you setup the App Store you need a DUNS number which then makes the address mostly public.
    - lapcat 2y ago
      You don't need a DUNS number in the App Store. I don't have one.
      - jabart 2y ago
        You do if you register as a Business. Individuals and Government are the only non-required entities. https://developer.apple.com/support/D-U-N-S/ https://developer.apple.com/support/D-U-N-S/
        lapcat 2y ago
        I'm an individual, and individuals are the ones most affected negatively by this Digital Services Act requirement.
- ebebwe 2y ago
  Similar in EU. There are all sorts registry of self-employed people. Phone, address, date of birth, in some cases even local equivalent of Social Security number are public. Some countries even publish income.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
davesmylie 2y ago
I don't have a lot of apps on the play, and none of them are particularly popular - but some of them were/are useful. I'm letting my account lapse in November when this falls due for me - no way in heck I'd be putting these details out there. No great loss for google or the world, but still smarts a bit given the hours I've put in to them over the years.
- woleium 2y ago
  I have a coworking space i use that accepts mail. its cheapish ($200 a year) and allows me to keep my home address off of marketing materials

happyopossum 2y ago

> they may have to publish their home address Wouldn’t a PO Box be a better option? They run as little as $10/mo for one at the USPS.

beeboobaa3 2y ago
Not allowed.
- lapcat 2y ago
  It is allowed. I did exactly that for my apps.
  - beeboobaa3 2y ago
    It depends on how you're publishing your apps. If you have a registered business which publishes the app then you can use the business address, so a PO box might be viable. You'll need to make sure your business is registered on that address in your national business registry. Otherwise you are required to give your personal address. See e.g. https://dev.to/svprdga/privacy-nightmare-as-google-plans-to-publish-your-home-address-1g3d https://dev.to/svprdga/privacy-nightmare-as-google-plans-to-... but there are plenty of other sources that match my experience.
    - lapcat 2y ago
      I don't have a registered business. Nonetheless, I used a P.O. Box for my EU trader address in the App Store—a P.O. Box that I opened for this specific purpose—as well as a Google Voice phone number. These were both accepted by Apple and published in the EU.
rdsnsca 2y ago
An added expense, for an app that may not be paid.
- lapcat 2y ago
  If your app is not paid, then you're not a "trader" according to the EU.
  - throw4950sh06 2y ago
    You are according to the EU's rules of digital markets. Any app provider is. If you don't process any personal information, don't have ads or purchases and don't have online backend services... Then you might have a chance of arguing you're not a business. But that's probably so few apps it's worth it to just require everyone to follow the same rules.
    - lapcat 2y ago
      > You are according to the EU's rules of digital markets. Any app provider is. This is simply not true. I've read the regulations, because I had to declare trader status myself.
      - throw4950sh06 2y ago
        Read the rest of the comment.
        lapcat 2y ago
        I did. You're wrong. And you don't even have to "argue". It's a self-declaration.
        throw4950sh06 2y ago
        [flagged]
throw4950sh06 2y ago
Nope, you can't use that as your legal registered address in EU.

jabart 2y ago

In the US, if you run your own business your business address is public information already in most states. You can use a registered agent address in the US which can keep your personal address off the public record for your business. Most places do not accept a PO Box which is why most use a Registered Agent service.

lapcat 2y ago
Do you have a citation? This is not true in my state.
- jabart 2y ago
  I'm not citing 50 Secretary of States. Delaware has an option to be more private than other states. Though if you setup the App Store you need a DUNS number which then makes the address mostly public.
  - lapcat 2y ago
    You don't need a DUNS number in the App Store. I don't have one.
    - jabart 2y ago
      You do if you register as a Business. Individuals and Government are the only non-required entities. https://developer.apple.com/support/D-U-N-S/ https://developer.apple.com/support/D-U-N-S/
      - lapcat 2y ago
        I'm an individual, and individuals are the ones most affected negatively by this Digital Services Act requirement.
ebebwe 2y ago
Similar in EU. There are all sorts registry of self-employed people. Phone, address, date of birth, in some cases even local equivalent of Social Security number are public. Some countries even publish income.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

davesmylie 2y ago

I don't have a lot of apps on the play, and none of them are particularly popular - but some of them were/are useful. I'm letting my account lapse in November when this falls due for me - no way in heck I'd be putting these details out there. No great loss for google or the world, but still smarts a bit given the hours I've put in to them over the years.

woleium 2y ago
I have a coworking space i use that accepts mail. its cheapish ($200 a year) and allows me to keep my home address off of marketing materials