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x1ph0zyesterday at 6:10 PM8 repliesview on HN

What are some ways users can insulate themselves from something like this?


Replies

Anonbrityesterday at 6:12 PM

Don't use products from large US tech companies?

Apple has a slightly better track record than Google of fighting this stuff, but ultimately if you're using a product from a US tech company then it's likely ICE can get their grubby little mitts on everything that company knows about you

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digiownyesterday at 8:29 PM

I don't really understand the point in these cases specifically. If not Google, the government can always ask a bunch of other companies like utilities or stores about your details. It's a fool's errand to protect your payment info, ID, etc from the government, since it's issued or authorized by them in the first place.

With regard to more important info, treat Google and any other company's software as government-accessible. Don't put anything that could be even suspicious, since even if you can win in court, your time gets wasted by government employees getting paid for it. People keep forgetting it, but the cloud is just someone else's computer.

drnick1yesterday at 11:00 PM

Privacy crash course (non exhaustive):

- Do not use social media

- Install Linux on your PC/laptop, buy a phone compatible with GrapheneOS

- Self-host any cloud services you may need (file sharing etc.)

- Communicate over Signal or self-hosted Matrix/XMPP

- Use throwaway SIM cards and phone numbers where they make sense

- Unplug the cellular modem in your car (if applicable)

- Pay with cash or crypto

- Use fake identities for anything that isn't government related (paying taxes)

- Use Tor, VPNs, and ad blockers

AzzyHNyesterday at 7:32 PM

As a rule: don't bother with trying to "opt out" of data collection. Reject the collection entirely either by forcefully blocking it (ublock Origin for instance) or straight up not using the service.

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xysttoday at 12:32 AM

don't use centralized services, especially ones located in USA.

also self hosting (mail, contacts, storage, ...)

solid_fuelyesterday at 9:41 PM

Vote for politicians who support checks and bounds, demand accountability from those in power, and participate in civics.

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dismalafyesterday at 7:21 PM

Be outside the US and/or don't use products from US companies?

Believe it or not, tech companies must comply with the authorities of countries they operate in. They're also not required to tell you, sometimes they're compelled to not tell you.

The idea that a tech company can outright oppose the state is pure fantasy... They still must operate within laws.

charcircuityesterday at 8:13 PM

[flagged]

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