The Freedom Phone is asking for trouble

There’s a new phone on the market called the “Freedom Phone”, and the basic idea behind it is solid. It’s a phone that gives you more privacy and less of the tracking from companies like Google and Apple, and I think most of us can agree that’s a good thing. The problem is that the phone simply doesn’t do that.

First, it’s still running a version of Google’s Android operating system. It’s hard to build a new phone operating system from scratch, for sure, but using Google’s is a tough angle to start from if you’re trying to show how bad Google is. Plus, you still need to get service through Verizon or AT&T or similar. Those folks are essentially impossible to escape when it comes to mobile phones, but they can still watch everything you do.

Taking it further, though, this phone is just the UMIDIGI A9 Pro, rebranded as the “Freedom Phone” with some different apps preloaded, and being sold for 4x the cost. ( note: it’s been confirmed that it’s a UMIDIGI phone, though whether it’s the exact same specs as the A9 Pro is still being uncovered). If you want privacy, buying a cheap phone from a Chinese manufacturer isn’t likely the best way to go.

The App Store

Perhaps of greater concern is the app store on the phone, and their hard push to make it completely uncensored. This means it will likely…