The question’s a little weird.

Can a reasonable person genuinely believe in ghosts? Yes, obviously, people do and many of them would be considered generally reasonable. They manage their lives okay, they make good decisions most of the time, they’re not gibbering maniacs, they’re reasonable people.

But: is it reasonable (meaning, grounded in good evidence) to believe in ghosts? I’d say it depends on what you and your friend specifically mean by “ghosts”, but in general no. If ghosts were real, they’d be more observable.

And “Hitchens said so” is pretty weak sauce, so I hope that’s an uncharitable summary of your argument.

The change is global, but it’s hitting those countries first (2026).

From the official post about the change:

• October 2025: Early access begins. Invitations will be sent out gradually.
• March 2026: Verification opens for all developers.
• September 2026: These requirements go into effect in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. At this point, any app installed on a certified Android device in these regions must be registered by a verified developer.
• 2027 and beyond: We will continue to roll out these requirements globally.