I think this tells us all we need to know about proton unfortunately.

I don’t know what an app bundle consists of, which the page you linked says google needs, but it can’t include the source code because google has recently been paying some developers for access to their source code - https://www.techrepublic.com/article/news-google-android-code-offer/

In any case, having access to the source code will not grant access to encryption keys or allow anyone to decrypt messages. After all Signal is already open source so anyone can use the Signal protocol for encrypting messages, which is exactly what WhatsApp does.

What do you mean by this? Isn’t Google’s signing key only used to verify an update for an app is actually the for correct app? Even if Google could decompile the app, they wouldn’t have access to Signal’s servers or any encryption keys so they couldn’t read any messages.

Hey my snake oil has no snakes!

This can also be combined with the sound of the grid, or mains power, to figure out a general location and an exact time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0elNU0iOMY

Surely there has to be a breaking point right? I wonder if there could be some kind of workaround through Tor, maybe we’ll have to make a new internet with black jack and hookers, or maybe the populace will get complacent and we’ll be forced back into shopping malls to get our social interactions.

The main problem is how a user’s age is verified for laws like this. Why not just make the same law apply to the entire platform? I think all of us could benefit from less addictive social media.

I’m lucky to have an Aldi within driving distance, but their cheapest stuff I used to buy has gone up over 150% since covid while other grocery stores around here went up 70-90% for similar food. Aldi is still cheaper, but not by as much.

Yes but you can’t help with that part. My goal with this post is to find lesser-known websites or chains that treat its customers like people.

Luckily there are some thrift stores around here, and one nice thing is they’re always small enough they have real people working instead of some AI robot. Although you never know for sure what they have so shopping takes longer. I’ll just need to plan for a day when I’m less busy.

I’ll be honest I heard of mercari but it just seemed like an eBay clone and I didn’t want to make another account just so it coulf leaked in a data breach, but I never bothered to look into them. Thanks for the recommendation, I think it’s finally time I check them out.

Yep I think so too. Once companies get so big they have more money than they know what to do with, so why not expand into tracking customers and selling their data for a few extra cents?

Target partners with Flock Safety and famously has one of the most sophisticated security systems to where they’ve partnered with the FBI to help them solve crimes. https://thehorizonsun.com/features/2024/04/11/the-target-forensics-lab/

Amazon is one of the biggest companies in the world and they build profiles on users and track people across other websites, plus they own tons of smaller companies to help in this regard. They also own Blink and Ring which have partnered with Flock and ICE to identify and track people in the real world as well as report them to the police if they are believed to be here illegally or potentially involved in a major crime. I will add Ring cut its partnership with Flock and ICE because they ran a dumb Superbowl ad telling people about it, but they will do the same type of thing again, just more secretly next time. https://hrnews1.substack.com/p/ring-cameras-join-flock-and-amazon

Amazon is also starting to make delivery drivers record everything with smart glasses. https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/amazons-delivery-drivers-are-getting-ai-glasses-and-thats-the-least-unsettling-ai-in-the-job

Amazon is also rolling out drone deliveries at the same time, which will be more cameras in the sky. https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazon-prime-air-drone-delivery-expansion

Walmart partners with Flock, and therefore ICE as well, but I don’t know as much about them. I’m sure they also do some data tracking online like everyone else. I know I don’t want to give them money so I don’t bother looking up new stories on them. https://www.gadgetreview.com/fact-checking-the-whistleblower-what-walmarts-official-alpr-notice-actually-says

I assume they get paid for serving me ads, and is that the case even when I don’t click on any ads?

EBay is not ideal, but like you said sometimes they can’t be avoided. Bah indeed.

Thanks for reminding me about them! I remember shuffling through their catalogs a long time back.

Plus it would open the door for even more tracking.

That’s my plan: consume less, support physical stores, and use more cash.

I didn’t realize Ace hardware is a co-op, I’ll have to check out the one by me. Thanks!

Yeah, plus Amazon uses dark patterns to get you to sign up for prime, and then prime isn’t even fast shipping anymore…it bothers me enough I can stand to pay a little more somewhere else.