this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2023
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Privacy
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There are ways around it if you are willing to put in the work and deal with incoveniences.
For example, never use native Android or iOS, flash a custom ROM, never install proprietary apps, just that cuts a lot out. Only use cash for all stores and services, never carry payment cards with you, that wipes out financial tracking. Never give real info to stores. Use email aliases so different people have a different address. Don't use Windows on computer if the prgrams you use are not exclusive to Windows.
Those can be the beginner steps to how to be almost invisible in society. One thing I've done is try to push people onto SimpleX chat app for messaging so I can have a different random ID with each person I message so there's no contact info to share. Even people I know in person, we hang out together, I try to get them on SimpleX in place of Signal.
While I agree with all of that…. One of the biggest issues is employment. For instance through my job I’m forced to use both google and meta services, and I can’t “opt out” or “just don’t install it”. It’s a condition of employment. So of course you can say “just quit your job” but that’s not really viable is it? Over phone apps? And carrying two phones I will never do….. so……
Don't let your employer use your personal stuff for their needs. If they need you to have a phone for work, then they need to provide that, and you can leave that at work. The same with Alphabet- and Meta-services; that stays on the employers devices, never your own.
Any job that forces you to use Meta services is probably exploiting you in other ways and isn't worth whatever they're paying you. Even employees of Facebook don't have to do this.
Lol no they’re not. It’s a small company and I know everyone. I have to use WhatsApp to communicate with various 3rd party vendors in Europe because that’s the standard there. That’s all.
Run Whatsapp in a sandbox on a separate profile with minimal permissions. Disable it when you don't actively need it. Only use the absolute minimum of meta services, and only provide the minimum of your personal information.
And for google use a new blank account, never connect it to an account that has any of your personal information.
That is a run off, complete your sentence.