Forensic data on you is already pretty easy to obtain unless you’re taking special effort to avoid it being taken. Also when you get arrested they take whatever biometrics they like. The info on you those DNA testing companies are getting is info already easily available to the government. I guess if you’re concerned about your DNA being used to tailor ads to you, not just to criminalise you, it could be an issue, but idk I don’t think your DNA can really predict what ads will be effective on you.

regardless of which computer I used

That’s really bizarre. I wonder how they did that. So a different computer on a different network with a different email address and everything would still get you banned for ban evasion?

Really creepy too, obviously they’re keeping a lot of data on you to be able to be that thorough.

To clarify, you can still use old reddit logged in with a VPN, but they no longer allow you to browse logged out with a VPN. Still bad of course. But if you’re willing to log in you don’t have to turn off your VPN. You can sign up with a throwaway/obfuscated email if needs be

W

Most people are not privacy-conscious. I don’t get what your problem is. If you won’t do something just because the majority of people don’t, then why are you on !privacy@lemmy.ml? Go back to Facebook and Twitter and Google then

Not if I don’t need to, like if I need to have a conversation with someone that doesn’t need to be overheard. In any case turning your phone off and putting it in a faraday bag then putting it somewhere relatively noiseproof should be more than enough if you need to bring your phone with you.

Obviously you don’t have your phones on you. Otherwise what’s the point of meeting up in person.

Signal is fine for a drop-in WhatsApp replacement. I use it for chatting to my friends casually. For something you need more security for you could do encrypted emails as that doesn’t require exchanging phone numbers, or ideally just arrange to meet up in-person and discuss things so you don’t leave any kind of digital or paper trail.

That’s a good idea! The next time my friends bring up switching to Matrix I’ll probably try set us up a bridge to encourage the move

Matrix is pretty good, only problem is my friend groups can’t seem to make the switch. As in we all want to but we have other groups we talk to on discord so we’d have discord installed anyway, and I think some of us aren’t motivated enough to move our server over. I think generally the problem with privacy-respecting chat apps is everyone’s on whatsapp, everyone’s on discord, few “normies” or even less privacy-conscious communists will want to install a new app/program just to talk to you.

Afaik no one has ever been banned for using a third party client in and of itself. People have been banned for userbotting or spamming but afaik not for using a third party client as a normal human user. But yes it is technically against TOS

Why exclude GrapheneOS? It’s a really good mobile OS, and the creator has given his reasons for only supporting Pixels.

I don’t mean limited by price, I mean limited as in they don’t just shove ads everywhere like nordvpn or whatever.

Mullvad only do limited advertising and afaik don’t sponsor youtubers

Oh jesus, that’s crazy that it’s on GrapheneOS too.

Edit: I’m on a no-longer-supported GrapheneOS install on a Pixel 3a. I’ve checked and it’s not there for me. I also don’t live in the US (like OP). I wonder when it would’ve been added?

Doesn’t the US have the right to remain silent? Serious question—I thought it did. The advice here is to always stfu when cops try to speak to you, until you either get advice from a lawyer or very specific questions you can answer to expedite your release. If you have the right to remain silent I’d always suggest you exercise that right, and not even make “polite” small talk, just say nothing or “no comment”.