Simple answer is no but…

Stock android, like all commercial OS is inherently spyware. Google does have access to it and in theory could do anything, but that is only “in theory” because as far as we know stock android does not come with keyloggers and data exfiltration tools, it spies on you in the way of “telemetry” meaning that Google decided that certain data is useful and so they “anonymize” it and collect it, this data can be: wifi networks, location, phone usage, and more.

So in theory it is possible that stock android either already has spyware to collect personal app data that no one ever noticed (very unlikely) or that google will push an update with such software (somewhat unlikely)

Now if you use other Google apps, especially gboard and google assistant, you are definitely sharing SOME amount of peesonal text with google.

The reality is that you should consider your threat model, which means to consider what kind of risk you are willing to take and what kind you are willing to make a change to avoid. It is perfectly reasonable to say that you are not willing to use gboard or google assistant, but you are willing to use the stock android, understanding that you are sharing some data with Google, but most likely no app data (such as your texts in Signal)

Same thing about choosing a messenger. WhatsApp is made and managed by Meta, a company that lives off of user data. So even though WhatsApp claims (and seems to really be) end to end encrypted, you can still be sure that Meta is collecting everything they can, which probably means: who you are texting, how much, at what time, how much you use the app, location, and much more. Signal is open source and managed by a non-profit that does have a good track record, and because ut is open source you can also choose a different client (like Molly) which further reduces the Signal Foundation’s hold on your chats (if you fear that) So you could say that because all of your friends use WhatsApp you are willing to accept that Meta will collect a bunch of data on you, or you could decide that you are not okay with that data collection and therefore choose Signal. It is up to you. In any case, E2EE is a must as it protects you from unauthorized access from hackers.

It is not as good as a decentralized system, and even though the server is open source, it isn’t self hostable (technically in an intranet you could but not easily)

But the signal foundation is a non profit with external audits and a proven track record with law enforced requesting data and getting basically nothing (If i remember correctly they only have your user to phone number relation and the last time you were online)

So although it is imperfect, it is an amazing solution that is almost the only 1:1 competitor to whatsapp/messenger/imessage that is privacy respecting, so I am very grateful for it’s existence.

Just like any foss project, there some level of trust if you are going with the main distribution. In theory you are correct that not much is stopping them from releasing a malicious update, but because it is open source, soon enough people would notice that either they released new code that is malicious, or that the new version does not match the source code. That kind of scenario is known as a supply chain attack.

Since the code is open, you can literally read it for yourself to see exactly what the apk does. You can also fork it and modify it however you like, just like the creator of Molly did (Molly is a fork of the Signal client that adds some security features)

Just one time I want someone to write a love letter to some old technology and for it to just be an actual love letter and just like some psycho who is literally in love with some protocol and they’re like talking about how hot the protocol is and how they wish they could just fuck it. Is that too much to ask?

Straight up evil:

That is easier…

Securtiy by dysfunction!

Oh, you sound so optimistic, my bank has a mandatory 4 digit code as login with 2fa sms for new devices. I sometimes consider going to shoot the cto there but I don’t own a gun.

Can’t wait for Windows min requirements to be an RTX 5090

At some point, you have to recognize factory farming as a public policy decision rather than a retail choice

It is both, and both affect each other. False dichotomy?

a vegan community that satisfies itself with attaching blinders when they pass through the Bad Foods aisle at the grocery store is going to end up in the same place as the climate activist who only owns a bike.

Strawmaning what being a vegan is. It is far from just turning a blind eye.

The difference between the US and India is that if you go around trying to butcher cows in particularly devote areas of India, you’re subject to serious political reprisals.

You know that they eat plenty of other animals right? If you go there, meat and animal products are a very big part of the local food.

I can’t take these arguments seriously.

So just the “Appeal to futility” logical fallacy? I’m convinced!

Every change starts somewhere. Yes, 0.001% of the population can be vegan and it most likely won’t save a single slaughterhouse animal. But 1%? That’s already significant enough to make at least some change, and 10%? That’s already setting market trends and modifying industries, 50%?

You get my point. You joining the current vegan population is significant! The vegan population is estimated to be 9% in india and mexico, 5% in Israel, 2% in the UK, 1.5% in the US, and estimated to be a total of 1%-3% of the global population. This is a movement that has probably saved more lives and more gas emissions than many others have.

The irony of environmental activists using the word “veganism” while not being vegan 😒 (being vegan is one of the most significant reduction to greenhouse emissions that is within your personal choice)

I am currently on Android as well, but in recent months with more and more OEMs disabling unlocking the bootloader, and google somewhat abandoning AOSP, it seriously seems like my next phone would be a Linux one, which is cool but it sucks.

I hate the fact that the more technologically literate you are, the more you run away from it.

A smartphone with latest android, Gemini, google pay, a smartwatch, ChatGPT and a smart home?

Nope, I would rather have a Linux phone that is mostly incompatible with what is expected of modern smartphones, no AI please! Google pay? Only cash or monero! My watch is very smart, it can telle the time for a few years without a recharge, and nothing else!

Shit, deleting prod is my signature move! AI is coming for my job 😵

Time to fill the internet with posts about extremely cheap flights until the AI learns.

Example:

“Found a super cheap flight today! 10USD for a round trip to Japan from NYC!”

We could also force all people to wear ankle bracelets and be monitored by the government, AI could predict any ongoing or potential future crimes and we will have a crime free society where everyone is safe.

Recently I found a new class of passive water aggregators in my snack. I call it ,“DO NOT EAT, SILICA”

If any of the big companies were turned into a human, they would all be Epstein

Title is misleading, they are moving away from google services.