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Just like 6 months ago. I won't bother typing up my thoughts again and instead just copy/paste what I wrote before: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17416

Just like 6 months ago. I won't bother typing up my thoughts again and instead just copy/paste what I wrote before: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17416804 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17416804 > You should seriously consider [not carrying a cell phone] once more. > > These carriers will use the narrowest possible interpretation of their statements. Historical > location data appears to be fair game, and perhaps they'll just launch their own competing > service so they aren't providing anything to a third party. These carriers all constantly > record your location data and see it as another potential source of revenue. The law (in the > US) does not prevent them from trading it, sharing it, selling it, targeting advertising > using it, etc. > > They got caught with their hands in the cookie jar this time and are pretending to be really > sorry about it so that the law stays that way, and they can go back to stealing cookies once > this all dies down a bit. Don't for a second think that this means your location data will > not be used against you in order for the carrier to make a quick buck.

A2017U1 8y ago
What about simply not using a sim? Depends on circumstance but I can survive just fine without one in many cities. At home I have the wifi from so many restaurants/bars that even on the move I usually get a connection.
- kyboren 8y ago
  I'm not sure how much that helps. That should prevent carriers from being told/trivially discovering your phone number, but your cell radio might still broadcast with your IMEI, which is at least as uniquely identifying. The best is not to have a cellular radio, or to disable physically your phone's radio (e.g. as the Librem 5 will be designed to do). If that's too difficult or involved, soft disable the radio ('airplane mode'). That, however, requires you to trust the software really does keep the radio off.
  - A2017U1 8y ago
    Fair point, tempted to go down this rabbit hole with a SDR. You'd assume airplane mode should completely disable it simply for airline regulation reasons, but can't say for certain, and some manufacturers perhaps dont care. Xaiomi and Huawei come to mind.

A2017U1 8y ago

What about simply not using a sim? Depends on circumstance but I can survive just fine without one in many cities. At home I have the wifi from so many restaurants/bars that even on the move I usually get a connection.

kyboren 8y ago
I'm not sure how much that helps. That should prevent carriers from being told/trivially discovering your phone number, but your cell radio might still broadcast with your IMEI, which is at least as uniquely identifying. The best is not to have a cellular radio, or to disable physically your phone's radio (e.g. as the Librem 5 will be designed to do). If that's too difficult or involved, soft disable the radio ('airplane mode'). That, however, requires you to trust the software really does keep the radio off.
- A2017U1 8y ago
  Fair point, tempted to go down this rabbit hole with a SDR. You'd assume airplane mode should completely disable it simply for airline regulation reasons, but can't say for certain, and some manufacturers perhaps dont care. Xaiomi and Huawei come to mind.