SafetyNet API

The SafetyNet API consists of several application programming interfaces (APIs) offered by the Google Play Services to support security sensitive applications and enforce DRM. Currently, these APIs include device integrity verification, app verification, recaptcha and web address verification. It is an extension of AVB2.0 and dm-verity.

Attestation
The SafetyNet Attestation API, one of the APIs under the SafetyNet umbrella, provides verification that the integrity of the device is not compromised. In practice, non-official ROMs such as LineageOS fail the hardware attestation and thus restrict the user from using a non-compliant ROM while being able to use third-party apps (mainly banking) that require the API. Due to this, some consider this a monopolistic practice deterring the entrance of competing mobile operating systems in the market.

Attestation requires a network connection for Google Play Services to connect to Google servers and validate the hardware signatures. Amongst the checks, the API looks for bootloader unlock status, ROM signature and kernel strings. Upon successful checks, Google Play will mark the device as Certified.

The SafetyNet Attestation API (one of the four APIs under the SafetyNet umbrella) has been deprecated. Google expects to fully replace it with the Play Integrity API by the end of January 2025. Like the SafetyNet APIs, the Play Integrity API is offered by Google Services and thus is not available on free Android environments (AOSP). Therefore, apps that require the API to be available may refuse to execute on AOSP builds.