>SIM cards have their own cpu, memory, and OS running on them
That might be the case, but they still rely on the phone to feed it information. I doubt the sim card interface provides a way to send the currently connected wifi network or what apps are installed.
No but they can correlate things to a ridiculous amount of resolution. Sure, millions of people hit the Reddit API every day but I can guarantee no other person on earth hits it at exactly the same time as you do, repeatedly.
That might be the case, but they still rely on the phone to feed it information. I doubt the sim card interface provides a way to send the currently connected wifi network or what apps are installed.