The open letter we signed asks Google to:
1. Rescind the mandatory registration
2. Engage transparently on security improvements that respect Android's openness
3. Commit to platform neutrality
Privacy should be easy for users and developers alike!
keepandroidopen.org/open-letter/
Google has a history of proposing mechanisms that expand its control over users and developers. Manifest V2 deprecation, the AMP Project and Privacy Sandbox are just a few recent examples.
We opposed each of these proposals and we oppose this developer registry as well.
Mandatory developer registration is a serious privacy risk.
A single corporation would create a database of extensive information on every person who writes Android software.
This could cause creators of privacy-preserving apps to leave Android.
Android is an open platform that lets users install apps outside Google Play. For example, they can download Brave via F-Droid to avoid Google's restrictions and tracking.
However, by forcing developers to register, Google makes itself the gatekeeper. brave.com/blog/keep-an...
Starting September 2026, Android app devs must register with Google and upload government-issued ID, even if they don't use the Google Play Store.
This decision undermines Android's user-first ecosystem, presents massive privacy risks, and deepens Google’s surveillance economy.
Keep Android open!
Brave is joining the @eff.org , @torproject.org and 40+ other organizations in opposing Google's proposed Android developer registry.
Here's why we're taking this stand...
How to block YouTube Shorts in Brave:
Android/iOS:
1) Go to Settings -> Media
2) Enable "Block YouTube Shorts"
Desktop:
1) Go to Settings -> Shields -> Content Filtering
2) Enable "YouTube Anti-Shorts"
Reminder that this Brave feature exists:
By blocking ads and trackers, Brave already reduces how much memory sites use.
This performance work ensures that these built-in protections are as lightweight as possible, too.
These changes are live in Brave Beta on all platforms and will hit the release build by December.
The cosmetic filters in our ad blocker have been moved to flatbuffers, a more compact and efficient type of storage.
This under-the-hood change saves ~12 MB of memory on all platforms (Android, iOS and desktop) by default, and even more when additional lists are enabled!
Another performance boost is coming to Brave! 🎉
We’ve completed the next stage of improving the memory usage of the browser’s native adblock engine.
Here’s how we’re making your browsing faster…
Brave & philanthropy share something in common — both are built to make the internet a better place by putting people first.
Luke Mulks talked on the podcast about Brave’s mission to protect users, empower creators, and create privacy-first alternatives that give back.
youtube.com/watch?v=omkD...
❌ Walk every day
❌ Jog every day
✅ Walk or jog every day while listening to YouTube with the screen locked thanks to Brave
We’re currently building new AI innovations that could dramatically change how you browse.
One thing won’t change, though: Brave will remain the safest way to use AI.
If you want to use models not normally offered by Leo and want to protect your privacy, use the Bring Your Own Model (BYOM) feature.
BYOM lets you run a model on your own device and connect it to Leo to ensure that none of your data leaves your device: support.brave.app/hc/en-us/art...
You don't have to create an account to chat with Leo for free.
If you buy Leo Premium, which offers higher rate limits + extra models, your privacy is also protected in the subscription process. Subscribers get unlinkable tokens so payment info can’t be used to identify usage.
This same approach applies to any documents or images you ask Leo to analyze. They’re discarded immediately after Leo answers your prompt.
Other companies retain these files on their servers.
All of the AI models offered through Leo are hosted on our own infrastructure to ensure user privacy.
We don’t retain your conversations with Leo or use them for model training. We also don’t collect any personal data such as your IP address.
AI assistants collect personal information, store your conversations on their servers and use your inputs to train their models.
Leo doesn't. Here's how we built privacy into every part of the Brave browser's AI assistant...
Brave browser now automatically blocks Microsoft's invasive Windows Recall feature! Very similar to Signal, preventing Microsoft from screenshotting your sensitive content 🔥
Learn more:
brave.com/privacy-upda...
Brave's user base is likely not the type of users who would trust Recall that much, anyway, but it's still making sure the browser won't be in any snapshots.
"The best way for us to protect our users is to proactively disable this feature".
We're excited to make our browser available on a decentralized and account-free platform that's free of Big Tech restrictions and tracking.
Learn how to install Brave for Android through our F-Droid repository here: github.com/brave/brave-...
Brave for Android is now available as an F-Droid repository! 📱🤖
This officially-supported repository allows you to install the browser and get automatic updates without using the Google Play app.
Happy you're giving us a shot! Let me know what you think!
Brave makes the Web less annoying in many other ways. The browser blocks ads, cookie pop-ups and other clutter by default to clean up pages and make them load faster.
Get Brave here: brave.com/download
Be aware that blocking elements could break some sites. If you run into issues, select the "Clear all blocked elements" button in the Shields menu.
Otherwise, enjoy this new tool for decluttering the Web!
Block Elements is already in Brave for desktop. Here's how to use it there:
1. Right-click the page you're viewing.
2. Select Block elements.
3. Select the element you want to block.
4. Press the Block Element button.
Learn more about the feature here: brave.com/privacy-upda...
When you see an irritating website element like a promo banner, follow these steps:
1. Tap the Shields (lion) icon on the URL bar.
2. Tap Advanced controls.
3. Tap Block element.
3. Tap what you want to block.
4. Tap the Block Elements button.
Now it's gone! ✨
