Civil Liberties – Purism https://puri.sm/ High-quality computers that protect your freedom and privacy Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:29:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.28 https://puri.sm/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-purism-logo-rectangle-1-32x32.png Civil Liberties – Purism https://puri.sm/ 32 32 Who Owns Your Digital Self? https://puri.sm/posts/who-owns-your-digital-self/ Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:52:09 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=84608 The lawsuits now circling Apple are not just about stolen phones. They are about stolen selves—stolen data, stolen memories, stolen identities.

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]]> Safety Without Surveillance: Designing Digital Sovereignty for All Ages https://puri.sm/posts/safety-without-surveillance-designing-digital-sovereignty-for-all-ages/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:41:11 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=84574 In September, a single misconfiguration in Life360’s Android API turned a “family safety” app into a map of human lives exposed. More than 442,000 users had their precise GPS trails, names, and phone numbers dumped online by a threat actor known as Emo.

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]]> Secret Service Telecom Bust Exposes Cellular Weaknesses https://puri.sm/posts/secret-service-telecom-bust-exposes-cellular-weaknesses/ Tue, 23 Sep 2025 19:31:07 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=84546 The Secret Service’s disruption of a massive SIM-server network near the U.N. is proof that the threats to our communications are real, organized, and capable of overwhelming public safety systems.

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]]> Purism Approach vs. Google Model https://puri.sm/posts/purism-approach-vs-google-model/ Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:24:00 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=84519 The Justice Department and a coalition of states are pursuing antitrust action against Google, accusing it of running monopolistic ad-tech systems that exploit users and lock out competition. Regulators are weighing remedies that could force structural changes to Google’s ad empire.

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]]> When “Efficiency” Becomes Exposure: How DOGE Put America’s Identity at Risk https://puri.sm/posts/when-efficiency-becomes-exposure-how-doge-put-americas-identity-at-risk/ Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:03:10 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=84476 Every American should be alarmed.  It was recently reported that a whistleblower from inside the Social Security Administration, Chief Data Officer Charles Borges, has revealed that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) copied a live, full-fidelity version of the nation’s Social Security database onto an Amazon-hosted cloud environment that allegedly lacked independent security oversight. This affects any American who’s ever filled out a Social Security form,

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]]> When Technology Policy Defends Human Dignity https://puri.sm/posts/when-technology-policy-defends-human-dignity/ Thu, 18 Sep 2025 18:36:39 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=84366 In late August, Italy took a decisive step to protect women from one of the most insidious forms of online abuse: the non‑consensual sharing of intimate or misappropriated images. After years of complaints, activism, and public outrage, a notorious website — home to thousands of stolen photos of women, from ordinary citizens to public figures — was forced offline following a wave of legal and political pressure.

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]]> The NYPD’s $3B “Domain Awareness System” isn’t just a New York problem—it’s a warning for every American https://puri.sm/posts/the-nypds-3b-domain-awareness-system-isnt-just-a-new-york-problem-its-a-warning-for-every-american/ Thu, 18 Sep 2025 17:48:28 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=84454 In her September 15, 2025, New York Times opinion piece, Elizabeth Daniel Vasquez lays bare a reality too many Americans have ignored: the New York Police Department has quietly built one of the most expansive, integrated surveillance systems in the nation’s history.

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]]> Living in the Regulatory Future: Purism, the EU Data Act, and America’s Patchwork Privacy Laws https://puri.sm/posts/living-in-the-regulatory-future-purism-the-eu-data-act-and-americas-patchwork-privacy-laws/ Thu, 18 Sep 2025 16:55:30 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=84425 Recently, the EU Data Act was officially enacted — and with it, a new era of enforceable digital rights. Where the GDPR set the policy framework, the Data Act demands proof: verifiable, auditable systems that deliver true data portability, secure interoperability, and privacy‑by‑design across sectors.

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]]> California’s New Privacy Rules Are a National Signal https://puri.sm/posts/californias-new-privacy-rules-are-a-national-signal/ Sun, 07 Sep 2025 19:21:41 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=84134 California’s New Privacy Rules Are a National Signal The California Privacy Protection Agency’s latest regulations redraw the playing field. This is the first set of rules in the U.S. to require: Annual, independent cybersecurity audits for high-risk businesses Comprehensive risk assessments for key data processing activities Bias and privacy impact reviews for automated decision-making systems […]

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]]> FTC Issues Letters to Big Tech: No Back Doors https://puri.sm/posts/ftc-issues-letters-to-big-tech-no-back-doors/ Mon, 25 Aug 2025 21:07:47 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=84107 FTC to Big Tech: No Back Doors — Purism Was Already There Protecting against Jurisdictional Arbitrage When the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) makes a determined move like this, it’s not a casual policy tweak — it’s a line drawn in permanent ink. On August 21, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson sent formal notices to over a […]

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]]> AI, Big Tech, and the Fight for Digital Freedom: Purism’s Role https://puri.sm/posts/ai-big-tech-and-the-fight-for-digital-freedom-purisms-role/ Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:45:12 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=84006 We are living through a pivotal moment in the digital age—one where artificial intelligence and corporate consolidation are colliding with the fundamental rights of individuals. AI is no longer just a tool for innovation; it’s become the engine behind mass surveillance, behavioral profiling, and algorithmic manipulation. And the companies driving this transformation—Amazon, Apple, Meta, Google—are not just shaping technology. They’re shaping society.

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]]> Fairness Isn’t Just a Feature—It’s the Future https://puri.sm/posts/fairness-isnt-just-a-feature-its-the-future/ Wed, 06 Aug 2025 14:48:03 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=83942 The European Union is making bold moves to reshape the digital landscape—and if you're a consumer, developer, or platform operator, you’ll want to pay attention. Two major regulatory shifts are now underway: the proposed Digital Fairness Act and the activation of key provisions in the EU AI Act. Together, they signal a new era of transparency, accountability, and ethical design in the digital economy.

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]]> AI and Data Privacy Under Scrutiny https://puri.sm/posts/ai-and-data-privacy-under-scrutiny/ Wed, 06 Aug 2025 14:33:24 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=83938 The promise of AI is seductive: instant answers, personalized insights, and a frictionless interface with the digital world. But beneath the surface of convenience lies a growing privacy crisis—one that’s now impossible to ignore.

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]]> AI Puts Your Personal Privacy at Risk https://puri.sm/posts/ai-puts-your-personal-privacy-at-risk/ Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:44:20 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=83733 The proliferation of AI models across consumer platforms has ushered in a new era of convenience—but it’s also accelerated the erosion of personal privacy.
Large language models (LLMs) are trained on staggering volumes of data, including publicly available content and, in some cases, personally identifiable information (PII). That means sensitive metadata—everything from search history and location trails to voice recordings and biometric markers—can be folded into systems that behave like omniscient assistants, but without full user transparency or consent. In the monolithic culture of big tech, “innovation” often comes at the cost of ethical boundaries.

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]]> Privacy on Trial: Meta’s DOJ Battle vs. Purism’s User-Centric Philosophy https://puri.sm/posts/privacy-on-trial-metas-doj-battle-vs-purisms-user-centric-philosophy/ Tue, 29 Apr 2025 20:12:46 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=83000 The Department of Justice's (DOJ) current lawsuit against Meta spotlights a crucial discourse in the tech world, highlighting the fundamental right to privacy in the digital age.

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]]> The Importance of Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) https://puri.sm/posts/the-importance-of-software-bill-of-materials-sbom/ Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:02:56 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=82807 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been at the forefront of enhancing software supply chain security through its Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) initiatives. The SBOM is a comprehensive inventory of all components, libraries, and dependencies used in software development. This transparency is crucial for identifying potential vulnerabilities and mitigating risks associated with software supply chains.

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]]> Freedom of Choice vs. Oppression of Big Tech https://puri.sm/posts/freedom-of-choice-vs-oppression-of-big-tech/ Wed, 06 Nov 2024 17:13:31 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=82572 The modern smartphone landscape is dominated by a handful of technology giants, whose influence extends far beyond their own ecosystems. Unlike in the heyday of the PC revolution where multiple companies fought tooth and nail for market share by differentiating on feature functionality as well as price – offering a plethora of alternatives – today’s smartphone landscape is dominated by two main players: Apple’s IOS and Google’s Android.

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]]> FTC Highlights “Vast Surveillance” by Big Tech in Latest Report https://puri.sm/posts/ftc-highlights-vast-surveillance-by-big-tech-in-latest-report/ Fri, 20 Sep 2024 20:08:13 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=82432 The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a groundbreaking report this past week that sheds light on the vast surveillance practices of major social media and video streaming companies. The report. which was released on September 19th, is a stark reminder of the extensive data collection and monetization strategies employed by these tech giants, often at the expense of user privacy and security.

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]]> Your Phone is Giving Away More Than You Ever Bargained For https://puri.sm/posts/your-phone-is-giving-away-more-than-you-ever-bargained-for/ Mon, 15 Jul 2024 00:05:47 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=82040 The year 2007 represented a watershed moment for the modern smartphone industry as we know it. This was the year that Apple introduced its first iPhone device and Google announced Android via its participation in The Open Handset Alliance (which notably leveraged the Linux kernel and open-source code to create its mobile OS). Fast forward […]

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]]> SXSW 2024 Day 5- AI And Privacy In The News, So I Thought? https://puri.sm/posts/sxsw-2024-day-5-ai-and-privacy-in-the-news-so-i-thought/ Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:35:44 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=81526 I attended a session titled “AI and Privacy” yesterday and was under the impression that the discussion was going to be about AI the threat to privacy. Although the subject matter was addressed by the panel somewhat, the discussion seemed to be more focused on how an alarm company partnered with Google protects their alarm […]

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]]> Missing from Privacy Legislation- The Abolishment of Surveillance Capitalism (Predatory & Harmful Surveillance Business Practices)! https://puri.sm/posts/missing-from-privacy-legislation-the-abolishment-of-surveillance-capitalism-predatory-harmful-surveillance-business-practices/ Wed, 07 Feb 2024 14:25:35 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=81449 Surveillance capitalism is predatory data mining typically via addictive and harmful sites and applications with social validation feedback loops/intermittent variable rewards along with manipulative targeted advertising based on one’s personal identity and gathered preferences. I am a former app/platform developer, and I have been an advisor to numerous lawmakers regarding tech congressional hearings dating back […]

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]]> Centralized or Decentralized There is No Question https://puri.sm/posts/centralized-or-decentralized-there-is-no-question/ Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:34:47 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=80177 Sometimes I am asked why I don’t have an instagram, facebook, snapchat, tiktok, google, or X account (fun fact x.com is one of the few single letter domains ever granted–a not often reported on fact). The reason I originally refused to ever sign up for these centralized services is because well… they’re centralized. Meaning there […]

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]]> Purism Puts You in Control of Your Smartphone! https://puri.sm/posts/controlling-you-by-smartphone-is-a-reality-but-not-with-purism/ Tue, 05 Dec 2023 15:31:58 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=80936 There is a good reason why Purism does not require PureOS end users to click “I Agree” to accept intrusive terms of use that give up all control to either Google (for Android) or Apple (for iOS). When you buy a smartphone manufactured by Purism, such as the Liberty Phone (with Made in USA Electronics) […]

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]]> The Negative Consequences from Clicking on “I Agree”- Understanding App, Social Media, and AI Terms of Service https://puri.sm/posts/the-negative-consequences-from-clicking-on-i-agree-understanding-app-social-media-and-ai-terms-of-service/ Wed, 01 Nov 2023 15:16:10 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=80620 We all have clicked on “I Agree” without reading the fine print when it comes to the collective terms of service that support operating systems, apps, social media platforms, and AI products such as ChatGPT, but do we really understand the negative consequences from clicking on “I Agree”? Before consumers of technology can understand the […]

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]]> Thank You Librem 5 Supporters! https://puri.sm/posts/thank-you-librem-5-supporters/ Fri, 01 Sep 2023 09:58:19 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=80259 From all of us at Purism, we would like to thank all our Librem 5 early supporters for taking a giant risk to invest in the development of the Librem 5 smartphone and all the innovations that surround it. We realized that investing money into development toward a product that may or may not have […]

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]]> Introducing the Liberty Phone https://puri.sm/posts/introducing-the-liberty-phone/ Fri, 30 Jun 2023 19:22:48 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=79598 Introducing the Liberty Phone with more RAM and more drive space, starting at $2199. Learn More Buy Now The Liberty Phone is the upgraded version of our popular Librem 5 USA phone with Made in USA Electronics. The Liberty Phone integrates 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Made in USA Electronics All the […]

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]]> The Silicon Valley Matrix- How To Break Free From Internet Centralization! https://puri.sm/posts/the-silicon-valley-matrix-how-to-break-free-from-internet-centralization/ Thu, 08 Jun 2023 21:05:56 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=79531 The Silicon Valley Matrix Has You… Like the movie the Matrix, internet end users have been enslaved to produce highly valuable information by the very tech giants the internet end user patronizes with their trust, loyalty, and hard-earned money. Over the past 20 plus years the internet has been centralized for commercial purposes by a […]

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]]> Is Advanced AI A Reason To Decouple From The Centralized Internet? https://puri.sm/posts/is-advanced-ai-a-reason-to-decouple-from-the-centralized-internet/ Tue, 16 May 2023 19:20:27 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=79270 With the recent advancements and proliferation of AI (such as ChatGPT and other probabilistic algorithms), it may be time for individuals, companies and governments to consider exiting the centralized internet. There is high concern over security, privacy, and safety threats exposed by artificial intelligence pioneers and industry voices who have recently come forward including Alphabet’s […]

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]]> Purism Offers Secure Private Voice & Data Services For Smartphone Owners https://puri.sm/posts/purism-offers-secure-private-voice-data-services-for-smartphone-owners/ Wed, 10 May 2023 17:23:02 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=79236 Purism is excited to announce that anyone who owns a qualified smartphone can port their voice and data services, including their existing phone number, to Purism by purchasing the Librem AweSIM, a VPN for cellular like service. Unlike AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, MetroPCS and Cricket, Purism’s Librem AweSIM does not support unified customer identifiers based on customer […]

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]]> Conversation with Kyle Rankin, President, Purism and Matthias Kirschner, President at Free Software Foundation Europe. https://puri.sm/posts/kyle-and-matthias/ Fri, 17 Mar 2023 08:44:16 +0000 https://puri.sm/?p=77561 Matthias Kirschner, President at Free Software Foundation Europe, recently launched Ada & Zangemann: A Tale of Software, Skateboards, and Raspberry Ice Cream. This children’s book is delightfully illustrated by Sandra Brandstätter. The book is published under CC-BY-SA and can be purchased online at FSFE or here. Kyle Rankin, President caught up with Matthias Kirschner to […]

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