this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2025
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Privacy

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Google has been trying to make Android proprietary for a few years now, and that's not news, as many AOSP default apps have been abandoned over time in favor of proprietary Google ones. This was never a huge problem for me, as you can still use those apps without network access or use open source alternatives like Fossify on a custom ROM.

However, the situation is quickly getting worse, now that Google is actively trying to prevent the development of custom ROMs and taking a page from Apple's book by forcing developers to beg them for permission to release apps on the Android platform, even outside of the Play Store - giving Google full control.

Is there still any hope left for privacy respecting Android ROMs? What do you think will happen next? And what would be your suggestions for those looking for a phone in 2025?

If you have a different perspective on the situation, also please comment below!

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[–] spacemanspiffy@lemmy.world 9 points 6 days ago (2 children)

I'm not gonna go looking for it or share it, but I am here using my Librem 5 and kinda feeling like that kid in the meme hitting a bong in the background while people in the foreground fight.

[–] monovergent@lemmy.ml 6 points 6 days ago (1 children)

How much does the Librem 5 satisfy what you want out of a daily driver phone?

[–] spacemanspiffy@lemmy.world 5 points 6 days ago (2 children)

I am satisfied with it. Calls/SMS/MMS all work fine. Internet and the few apps I use work fine.

I will admit though that many (most?) others might not agree. Banking apps, GPS navigation, these are things I don't care about.

I have gripes with the L5 but I am never, ever going back. My next phone will probably be Purism's next phone, if they have one.

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[–] ScoffingLizard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (3 children)

Is all the talk about not recieving phones ordered and the poor customer service just a smear campaign or is there truth to it?

How do you like the kill switch?

What country/service are you on?

Have you heard any rumors regarding the inventory issues? They do not have US modem version of their phones in stock, even if you get the really expensive one or a refurbished option.

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[–] CodenameDarlen@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

I think you still can have a Linux phone with GNOME, there's a GNOME version for mobile.

After all, what is a smartphone? Just a convenient computer that can make calls.

Linux + GNOME will do that for you.

This is from 2022 and it looks pretty good to me: https://blogs.gnome.org/shell-dev/2022/09/09/gnome-shell-on-mobile-an-update/

[–] idefix@sh.itjust.works 10 points 6 days ago (2 children)

What about a Murena phone such as the Fairphone 6 ? Is /e/os impacted?

[–] passepartout@feddit.org 11 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (14 children)

Fairphone 6, especially with /e/os is not an option atm from a security standpoint. But then again, no phone is except iPhones and Pixels (and more recent Samsung phones).

Fairphone 6 does not keep up with standard Android privacy/security patches and has no secure element to provide working disk encryption for typical users not using a strong password, among other flaws.

Regarding privacy, Murena is shilling their own proprietary Apps as alternatives to Google.

/e/OS includes numerous non-private apps and services. The Murena voice-to-text service included in /e/OS even sends user speech data to OpenAI with no local option compared to Apple and Google both offering offline speech-to-text support via local models which users can make sure is always used:

https://community.e.foundation/t/voice-to-text-feature-using-open-ai/70509

Taken from the Graphene OS forum

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[–] upstroke4448@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (3 children)

Yes. As long as GrapheneOS still exists there is at least some hope. The sad thing is even before this outside of GrapheneOS there really isn't any other "ROM" actually focused on privacy.

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[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 8 points 6 days ago

I'm afraid not.

[–] Schlemmy@lemmy.ml 7 points 6 days ago (5 children)
[–] Renohren@lemmy.today 7 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

That was then, now they are very pro FANGS and removing all barriers because they are afraid of tariffs and want the US to keep selling them weapons for Ukraine.

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