Android 17 enforces Certificate Transparency, requiring app updates for Play Store compliance

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Google's Android 17 introduces native Certificate Transparency (CT) validation, meaning the OS will verify that every TLS certificate is logged in public CT registries before allowing a secure connection. Each certificate must contain at least one valid Signed Certificate Timestamp (SCT) from recognized logs such as Google CT Log, DigiCert, or Let's Encrypt. Apps that are not updated to support CT risk being rejected on Google Play, making compliance a practical necessity for developers. Developers can enable CT support by updating the Network Security Config XML file and referencing it in the AndroidManifest, with optional runtime verification available through the new CertificateTransparency API in Kotlin or Java. The change also helps apps align with regulatory frameworks including eIDAS and PCI-DSS, strengthening the overall TLS trust chain on Android devices.

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