this post was submitted on 06 Apr 2026
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Privacy
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i dream about a phone with hw switch, which would be used to lock the screen and at the same moment it would physically disconnect microphone, camera, and gps module.
not saying it is complete solution to the privacy problem, but it would be good start.
the pinephone does that, its not built into the lock screen button but, it has a switch for most the privacy central features.
did not know that. but from the image, that seems like something that is inside of the phone? not really something you casually flip on the street.
my idea is that anytime you would flip the switch and lock the screen to put the phone in the pocket, its spying capabilities would be physically disabled.
Yea you are right, the privacy switches are under the battery cover, so it requires taking the cover off flipping the switch and putting it back on again.
The cover is made similar to how the Acatels are if you have ever used them, so its a pry instead of a slide which is annoying, but at least its there
I actually have one I'm not using at the moment. The switches at within the back cover but that's easily able to be reached within 5 seconds or so with no tools. It's not exactly something you would be flipping on and off regularly though unless you had a very specific use case.
Anything that isn't a hardware switch potentially leads itself to being bypassed, so the switches are your best bet for being sure it's disabled.
Edit: there's also this (I linked the case which shows the switches) phone which has switches on the outside for this purpose. I don't know anyone who has used this one however.
If my phone had an accessible hardware switch I would absolutely be using it 100% of the time I wasn't actively on my phone.
Fairphone 6 with e/OS can use its physical switch to disable camera & microphone. Its only SW disabling but it forces app that want to use it request it. There's also privacy setting that gives apps fake geo data.
Its not perfect but any improvement is good.
What's the point of a hardware switch if it only disables it via software? GrapheneOS has a software switch too.
Would need to disable the cell radios, wifi and bluetooth too since those are also used to track device location.
you can't really disconnect yourself from the cell network, that would beat the purpose of having the mobile phone ;)
Would it?
yes.
but i can still watch netflix
that is cool, but primary purpose of a phone is to make and receive phone calls. there are better tools for watching netflix.
yeah but dropping a PC on my face while laying on my bed takes too much work
If you have a need for high levels of privacy it's the only way to do it, or just leave your phone at home.
It doesn't really defeat the purpose of having a mobile phone either IMO, most stuff I do on my phone is already offline (maps, notes, taking photos, etc).
well, the primary purpose of a PHONE is to be able to make and receive PHONE CALLS. anything else is just a matter of convenience.you can use maps, make photos and take notes without a phone, the same can't be said for phone calls.