Topic: Privacy Phone

Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater, is marketing a new "unplugged" mobile phone designed for privacy and security. The move is viewed as a strategic business pivot for Prince as he rebrands his operations for a consumer market concerned with surveillance.

Adam Curry notes significant battery drain on his Kyocera phone while traveling in Europe, theorizing that different 4G LTE frequencies in the EU may be responsible. The conversation moves to the Cat B35 mobile phone and the KaiOS operating system. The hosts express disappointment that Google has invested in KaiOS, fearing the integration of Google Assistant will ruin the privacy-focused nature of feature phones.

Tucker Carlson featured Erik Prince in a paid promotion for the "Unplugged" phone, a device marketed as a secure alternative to Big Tech hardware. Prince claims the phone uses a custom operating system to block data leakage and surveillance, though critics suggest it is likely an Android derivative. Technical skepticism is raised regarding the phone's ability to run popular apps like Spotify or Telegram without compromising the promised privacy features.

Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater, is marketing a new privacy-focused mobile device called the Unplugged phone. The device runs on a proprietary operating system and includes a dedicated messenger and VPN service. Skeptics point to Prince's background in private intelligence as a reason to be wary of the device's security claims.

A trend among millennials and Gen Z involves switching from smartphones to "dumb phones" (feature phones) to avoid digital distractions and tracking. Sales of these devices increased by 150% since 2019. The hosts argue that the term "dumb phone" is a derogatory label used by the media to discourage people from opting out of the smartphone ecosystem, which is essential for the implementation of QR-code-based tracking and digital IDs.

The Public Health Agency of Canada admitted to purchasing de-identified cell phone location data to monitor population movements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Privacy experts and the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Daniel Therrien, debated the ethics of using personal information for "legitimate business interests" without explicit consent. The hosts critique the concept of "democratically appointed institutions" overseeing such surveillance.

A producer has launched noagendaphone.com, a service that provides "de-googled" smartphones running Graphene OS. This initiative allows users to regain control over their data and stop tracking. The service has become popular among the show's audience, and the producer contributed a portion of the proceeds back to the podcast as a "finder's fee."

The hosts discuss the "No Agenda Phone" service, where a producer flashes Graphene OS onto devices for users. They also critique the Signal messaging app for requiring access to a user's entire contact list to function, which they view as a privacy flaw.

Individuals are increasingly taking measures to avoid digital surveillance, such as leaving cell phones at home when visiting friends or family. There is a growing awareness that location data could be used against individuals in the future. Some suggest creative tactics, like attaching a phone to a dog, to generate misleading movement data and preserve personal privacy.

Anonymous in Chicago and other producers contributed to the show using their government stimulus checks. One producer confirmed the purchase of an Alcatel Go Flip 3 to avoid the "medical surveillance state" associated with smartphones. The hosts noted that flip phones with hotspot capabilities are becoming a popular choice for privacy-conscious listeners looking to minimize their digital footprint.

A review of the Alcatel Go Flip 3 praises its call quality but criticizes a software glitch that prevents a clean "click" disconnect. Separately, Apple confirmed that the iPhone 11 Pro continues to collect location data even when tracking is disabled, calling it "desired behavior."

The "Off The Grid" (OTG) report features a review of a new flip phone that lacks advanced tracking features. The host notes that using the phone's hotspot causes geolocation services to incorrectly place him in Dallas rather than Austin, providing a layer of privacy. The segment also touches on skepticism regarding the security of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), suggesting they may be compromised by state actors.

A producer sent a Pixel 3 loaded with GrapheneOS, a privacy-focused, open-source operating system that randomizes MAC addresses and strips out Google services. Despite the technical superiority and privacy benefits, one host found the device "unusable" because its speed and functionality triggered his digital addiction. He argues for a "ShitOS"—a phone so difficult to use that it deters constant checking and keeps the user "off the grid."

A discussion on Google's content reviewers reveals that employees often overhear private conversations when "smart" microphones stay open too long. This prompts a historical anecdote about the era of analog cell phone scanners, where people could use modified Radio Shack equipment to listen in on their neighbors' private calls, ranging from drug deals to personal affairs.

A new credit-card-sized phone from Kyocera featuring an e-ink screen is presented as part of the "Off-The-Grid" (OTG) movement to avoid Silicon Valley tracking. A 2015 clip of Senator Lindsey Graham smashing his flip phone after Donald Trump leaked his number is used to illustrate the early stages of the trend toward simplified communication devices.

A review of the Kyocera DuraXV LTE highlights its utility as a "pro-sanity" device that lacks the tracking infrastructure of modern smartphones. The military-grade flip phone is waterproof, features a basic HTML5 browser, and supports IMAP email without the distractions of a standard app ecosystem. It is praised for its durability, tactile buttons, and the "rage hang-up" capability provided by its physical clamshell design.

The attempt to live a "pager lifestyle" is declared a failure due to slow SMS transmission and duplicate messages. As an alternative for privacy, the hosts discuss returning to "dumb" feature phones like the Nokia Asha 210 or E71, which lack modern tracking sensors and run the legacy Symbian operating system.

The hosts continue discussing the difficulty of maintaining privacy in an era where Google and Apple track nearly all movement. They explore alternative communication methods such as Iridium satellite phones and APRS radio systems, though they find them bulky or impractical for daily use. The segment concludes with a humorous suggestion for a "hipster utility belt" to hold pagers, vapes, and legacy iPod devices.

The Supreme Court's ruling that police must obtain a warrant to search a suspect's cell phone is discussed. Reverend Manning provides commentary, suggesting the ruling is "bogative" because digital warrants can now be obtained via text message in minutes.

The hosts discuss the merits of living without a cell phone to avoid government surveillance. They debunk the "emergency" argument for carrying a phone, with Adam Curry sharing an anecdote about his daughter calling from London as the only true emergency he has faced in years.