Why a De-Googled Android Privacy Phone?
Because Google keeps lying!
Yup, I said it. Big Tech, especially Google lies to you, how shocking!
There are many reasons you want your communications with your trusted circle to be private but today we are going to talk about a serious reason to become degoogled. Its because they straight out lie to you over and over again.
Proof? Let’s unbox the topic with court case evidence and a new browser monitoring technology.
Yes, it hurts. As I stated when I started this Substack that I am addicted to technology and this blog not only discusses privacy but my own journey to a digitally private life.
It hurts because:
I love the Google Pixel family of devices. Thank goodness we can wipe the hardware and add Privacy OS (and others) for a private experience.
I love Google Maps. But it is creepy when I get monthly reports in my inbox with everywhere I went even when I was not using Maps.
I always hated Gmail. I always figured Google had always read the email messages to better give you ads and its basically proven your email is fed into their AI learning. Just ask ChatGPT. Feed that algorithm!
Google Plus. Glad its dead.
Google Search! Does it ever work well, but finally left for Duck Duck Go.
The Lies
Lied: Location Tracking
November 14th, 2022 – Reuters
Google to pay nearly $400 million to settle U.S. location-tracking probe
“Alphabet's Google will pay $391.5 million to settle allegations by 40 states that the search and advertising giant illegally tracked users' locations, the Michigan attorney general's office said Monday.” - Read more
September 15, 2023
Google to pay $155 million in settlements over location tracking
“Google agreed to pay $155 million to settle claims by California and private plaintiffs that the search engine company misled consumers about how it tracks their locations and used their data without consent.” - Read more
Interesting note: Google generated $110.9 billion of advertising revenue in the first half of 2023, accounting for 81% of its total $137.7 billion of revenue. They build great tech but if its too private they strangle the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Determining Your Likes and Desires
September 5th, 2023
How to disable Chrome’s new targeted ad tracking
“This summer, Google began rolling out its new Topics API, which ‘allows a browser to share information with third parties about a user’s interests while preserving privacy.’ {BS!} A part of Google’s new Privacy Sandbox, the API is supposed to replace the third-party cookies that have been following us around for many years now, reporting where we go and what we buy, among other info. If the idea of sharing information about your interests with third parties doesn’t thrill you, you can easily turn it off.” Here’s how: Read more
Comment: Maybe this one is not so much a lie but they go from “we don’t use cookies to track you” to “we just monitor everything thing you do and build a personality profile on you while you use Google Chrome”
Geeze! So if they are telling third parties about your profile even if they state it is anonymous, do we believe them?
Lied: Google Chrome Private (Incognito) Mode
August 8th, 2023
$5 billion Google lawsuit over ‘Incognito mode’ tracking closer to trial
“A California judge denied Google’s request for summary judgment in a lawsuit filed by users alleging the company illegally invaded the privacy of millions of people. The people suing Google say that occurred because Google’s cookies, analytics, and tools in apps continued to track internet browsing activity even after users activated Incognito mode Chrome.” - Read more
Comment: Is private mode really private, I guess not!
In Closing
I feel sad, betrayed, and should have known better. I have almost gone cold turkey from Google. Currently working on an exodus from Google Maps, that will be a separate Substack soon as that mission becomes complete; we are testing a privacy focused map apps for our phones.
With Google flat out lying about truly protecting your privacy and YouTube being very selective on the type of content (I am not talking about illegal content, just a difference of opinion content) they allow on their service, its time to break up. You degoogled yet?
Growing up I only thought the government were the liars, who do you trust these days?
This Substack is brought to you by our privacy oriented line of phones. Check them out!
"I always hated Gmail." I love the Gmail service. I hate that it is spyware. I use FastMail as a similar service. I'd rather pay Fastmail in dollars than pay Google with my personal data! I also use the paid ProtonMail ... that I bought in an alias name ... and paid for in anonymous BitCoin :)
"Thank goodness we can wipe the hardware and add Graphene OS (and others) for a private experience". I do agree that Graphene is the most privacy -oriented OS. Be aware that it becomes "unsupported" on a similar timeline as mainstream Google-Android. By unsupported, you can't load it onto an older phone (like a Pixel 3 and some 4's). I'm still using Graphene on a 3a with an existing installation. Before you throw out that old phone, consider putting another OS on it. CalyxOS is my 2nd place pick for an OS. You can still load it on a Pixel 3. 3rd place is LineageOS that you can load on a Pixel 2.