This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
I mean, yeah fuck Google, they’re full-on evil and I refuse to use any of their shit.
But can we also talk about the fact that a person is in the country fully legally, and because they went to one protest a department that has nothing to do with that at all came after their data? The same department which is known to kidnap and disappear fully legal residents?
Anyway, expecting any us-based corporation to prioritize customers over government is a fool’s errand.
It's the fascist takeover through ICE. Immigration is the surface level on-paper speak. The overreach is not an accident or exception; it's the rule and the plan of intimidation and taking control.
In September 2024, Amandla Thomas-Johnson was a Ph.D. candidate studying in the U.S. on a student visa when he briefly attended a pro-Palestinian protest. In April 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sent Google an administrative subpoena requesting his data. The next month, Google gave Thomas-Johnson's information to ICE without giving him the chance to challenge the subpoena, breaking a nearly decade-long promise to notify users before handing their data to law enforcement.
Time to de-google my phone again. Seems using sandboxed play services is not enough.
Why do you say that? This story doesn't say anything about sanboxed play services. If you're using actual google account even with sandobxed play services you're obviously handing over your data to Google. If you're not logged in how using sandboxed play services a problem?
I say this because the threat from google just went from "Ad-related surveillance capitalism" to "supplying Data to fascist Regimes to hunt you down"
Yes, but why using sandboxed play services is not enough? What identifiable data are you leaking? Especially with VPN.
Anybody got a good walkthrough on how to degoogle an android phone? The thing is half broken without a google account. (ok, aptoide and f-droid help for starters)
You need to install GrapheneOS, /e/, iode or Lineage OS (people will tell you only Graphene OS is truly private but that's not true). After that simply never log in with your google account. Use only apps that don't require google account. Aurora is a Play Store client that works without google account.
Eh, my phone is not in the compatible lineage list, gotta check that before I buy next time.
The dying frog asks the scorpion why it stung despite knowing the consequence, to which the scorpion replies: "I am sorry, but I couldn't help myself. It's my character."
Oh this is coincidences I just downloaded a meme
the meme:
it was on pc and I am on my phone but it is a scorpius stinging a frog. In the meme time, enjoy this,
if only more people move away from Google shit. The problem is always about the sheer number of apps Google has. I can switch no problem, but convincing my relatives or even a company to switch? Thats tough.
It’s tough… but you know it’s real progress too.
I mean... it should be obvious that this would happen. google since 2024 has gone full on fascist-support.
your data, regardless of where you live in the world, is not safe from Google sharing it specifically with the US Govt. without due process and without any privacy oversight.
it's not in question that they will comply, it's in their best financial interest as they are a government contractor at 4 different levels, including military intelligence and weapons design...
trusting Google is at your own peril... but we are also in a point of time where options are even more limited due to the restrictions on email providers and platform dependence.
I've nearly completely eliminated google from my personal life. Still need it for work, but they also have a long term plan to eliminate it. There are other options. But the thing I miss the most is google maps/Waze. Organic Maps really doesn't compare.
