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Comment by bramhaag

5 hours ago

> open-source means auditable privacy

This is what that auditing actually reveals:

* /e/OS sends user speech data to OpenAI without consent [1], and thought this was ok until they got caught [2].

* /e/OS massively delays security patches, and calls this a "standard industry practice" [3]. Meanwhile, GrapheneOS' opt-in security preview releases provide early access to security updates prior to official disclosure [4]. Also see [0] (Security update speed) and [7] (WebView being 40 security updates behind).

* microG downloads and executes proprietary Google binaries in a privileged environment [5] [6]. You can obviously not audit these, nor should this count as "degoogled".

* microG still phones home to Google by default (android.clients.google.com for device registration check-in, mtalk.google.com for FCM push, firebaseinstallations.googleapis.com for SIM activations) [7].

[0] has a comparison of popular privacy and security-focused Android-based OS, which paints the whole picture. Privacy-friendly does not necessarily mean secure, but in this case "privacy-friendly" is quite a stretch already.

[0] https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm

[1] https://grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/114880528716479708

[2] https://community.e.foundation/t/clarification-about-voice-t...

[3] https://community.e.foundation/t/e-os-and-security-updates/7...

[4] https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/27068-grapheneos-security-p...

[5] https://github.com/microg/GmsCore/blob/e19a9985204ec8329c1d9...

[6] https://github.com/microg/GmsCore/blob/e19a9985204ec8329c1d9...

[7] https://www.kuketz-blog.de/e-datenschutzfreundlich-bedeutet-...