[lostlogin]

I’m not so sure. I can think of plenty of places that are beyond the reach of my government but well within the reach of most the big tech companies. This might be less true if you’re from the US or China or maybe one of a few other countries.

What device would you use? How would you find information? It’s all possible, but not straightforward. There is likely a good sci-fi or black mirror plot in here somewhere.

[forest_dweller]

If I don't want to use an Apple or Android phone I can buy something else. I have a choice.

If I don't want to use Windows or MacOS, I can use an alternative operating system. If I don't want to use Google's search engine there are many other alternatives. If I don't want to use a companies webmail solution I can setup my own.

It is very simple to not deal with these tech companies.

[lostlogin]

> It is very simple to not deal with these tech companies.

You may find it easy, and well done if so.

Every step you have listed there is quite hard, even if you let some through (Apple in my case). Some of the things you are cutting out are very good, and that’s how they get you.

[forest_dweller]

Most of it you don't need. I think Stallman is a loon but he was right about the proprietary code making people slaves to it (but probably not in the way he intended).

There is still lots of stuff I kinda have to use but I've managed to massively reduce my use of most of this stuff.

Obviously if your job/business relies on using this stuff then you gotta use it. I wouldn't advocate that you put yourself out on the street for the source code freedoms.