Privacy – Purism

Dialing Back to Move Forward: Why the Landline Revival Signals a Future for Privacy

Purism — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 15:55:47 +0000

On September 30, 2025, The Washington Post reported a quiet trend in Washington, D.C.: the return of landline phones among officials and journalists seeking refuge from the omnipresent surveillance of smartphones. In a recent story, NBC News spotlighted parents in Maine and Seattle who are reviving landlines for their children—creating “landline pods” so kids can connect without the addictive pull of screens or the predatory reach of social media platforms.

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Safety Without Surveillance: Designing Digital Sovereignty for All Ages

Purism — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:41:11 +0000

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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Purism Approach vs. Google Model

Purism — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:24:00 +0000

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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Freedom by Design: Why Purism Rejects Big IT Status Quo

Purism — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:05:52 +0000

Three recent IT‑privacy headlines tell the same unsettling story: that consumer trust is being squandered

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When “Efficiency” Becomes Exposure: How DOGE Put America’s Identity at Risk

Purism — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:03:10 +0000

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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Spotify “Panama” Leak Is a Wake-Up Call for Digital Privacy

Purism — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:00:10 +0000

The New York Times recently reported that a hacker using the pseudonym “Tim” scraped publicly available data from Spotify and published it on his own website. Using automated bots, “Tim” harvested user playlists — many of them tied to identifiable names, locations, and even personal notes in titles or descriptions.

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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

Purism — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 17:48:28 +0000

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

Purism — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 16:55:30 +0000

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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Apple’s Latest iPhone: Sleeker Walls, Same Garden

Purism — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 17:43:14 +0000

Yesterday, Apple unveiled the latest iPhone lineup adding an iPhone Air — described by them as their thinnest, lightest yet. The headlines were predictable fanfare while missing the larger points.

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California’s New Privacy Rules Are a National Signal

Purism — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 19:21:41 +0000

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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The Quiet Revolution: GNU/Linux Crosses 6% Desktop Market Share—And It’s Just the Beginning

Purism — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 01:21:31 +0000

For decades, the phrase “Year of the Linux Desktop” has been tossed around like a tech industry punchline. But now, it’s no longer a meme—it’s a movement. According to the U.S. government’s own analytics, GNU/Linux has officially crossed the 6% threshold in desktop usage. That’s not hype. That’s hard data.

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A Privacy Shield in the Wake of AT&T Data Breaches

Purism — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 19:55:51 +0000

Purism AweSIM: A Privacy Shield in the Wake of AT&T Data Breaches AT&T was found liable to pay customers an estimated $177M to resolve multiple lawsuits stemming from two separate data breaches – March 30 and July 12, 2024. Both breaches exposed huge amounts of Personal Identifiable Information (PII) to the public. These two breaches […]

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AI, Big Tech, and the Fight for Digital Freedom: Purism’s Role

Purism — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:45:12 +0000

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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Instagram’s Mapping Feature: A Privacy Wake-Up Call

Purism — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:38:59 +0000

Instagram’s latest update introduces a mapping feature that quietly turns your location into a public breadcrumb trail. While it may seem like a harmless way to tag your favorite coffee shop or scenic overlook, the reality is more insidious: this feature keeps your location sharing always-on by default. That means every time you post, you’re potentially broadcasting your whereabouts—not just to friends, but to advertisers, data brokers, and anyone else watching. It’s a textbook example of how convenience is weaponized against privacy.

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Fairness Isn’t Just a Feature—It’s the Future

Purism — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 14:48:03 +0000

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

Purism — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 14:33:24 +0000

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

Purism — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:44:20 +0000

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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Germany Puts Microsoft on Watch—Why PureOS Offers a Safer, More Transparent Alternative

Purism — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 15:39:07 +0000

In a major move that underscores rising global concern over Big Tech power, Germany’s Federal Cartel Office (FCO) has officially designated Microsoft as having "paramount significance for competition across markets." This rare designation opens the door for closer scrutiny and intervention by German regulators—especially around Microsoft’s growing role in artificial intelligence and its tightly woven ecosystem of services.

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Purism CEO Todd Weaver: U.S.-Made Liberty Phone Proves Domestic Tech Manufacturing Is Possible—and Competitive

Purism — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:35:46 +0000

In a recent Bloomberg Technology interview, Todd Weaver, CEO of Purism, challenged the widespread belief that building smartphones in the U.S. is economically unfeasible. Purism’s Liberty Phone—manufactured with made-in-USA electronics—stands as a working proof of concept.

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Google to Pay Texas $1.4 Billion to End Privacy Cases

Purism — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 20:09:27 +0000

Google’s $1.375 billion settlement with Texas is a wake-up call for digital privacy (Bloomberg Law).

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Trump T1 Phone Android OS vs. PureOS

Rex M. Lee — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 16:59:36 +0000

Is the Trump T1 Phone Secure, Private, and Truly Made in America? The newly launched Trump T1 Phone is being marketed as a secure, privacy-respecting smartphone made in America. But while the hardware may be assembled in the U.S., the operating system—Android 15—raises significant concerns for anyone who values digital privacy, sovereignty, and freedom from surveillance capitalism.

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The 2025 Most Secure Phone in The World Reviews Are In: Efani, Analytics Insight, Navi, and Cashify

Purism — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:16:22 +0000

Purism’s Librem 5 and Liberty Phones Named the Most Secure Smartphones in the World Top cybersecurity and tech publications agree—Purism leads the industry in mobile security for 2025.

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Hidden Operating Systems in Chips vs. Secure, Auditable OSes: A Cybersecurity Comparison

Rex M. Lee — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 15:18:36 +0000

The Threat Beneath: The Invisible Operating Systems Inside Your Devices Beneath the surface of nearly every modern computer lies a hidden threat—one most users never see or control. Today’s Intel and AMD processors ship with embedded subsystems like the Intel Management Engine (ME) and AMD’s Platform Security Processor (PSP)—proprietary, low-level firmware environments that operate outside and below your main operating system.

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Apple Moves iPhone Production to India—Purism Has Been Leading the Way for Years

Purism — Thu, 15 May 2025 17:10:32 +0000

Apple is accelerating its shift of iPhone production from China to India, aiming for a complete transition by 2026.

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What Is PureOS? A Beginner’s Guide for iOS, Android, and Windows Users

Rex M. Lee — Wed, 07 May 2025 15:21:44 +0000

In today’s world, privacy and control over your digital life have become rare luxuries. Every tap, swipe, and click on most smartphones and PCs is tracked, analyzed, and monetized—usually without your explicit consent. That’s where PureOS comes in. So What Is PureOS? PureOS is a privacy-focused, secure, and open-source operating system developed by Purism. […]

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True Choice for Smartphone Privacy and Security

Randy Siegel — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 17:22:41 +0000

Since the mass-adoption of consumer smartphones in 2007, much has been written about the tradeoffs consumers and business users alike have been forced to accept when it comes to mobile computing.

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FTC Highlights “Vast Surveillance” by Big Tech in Latest Report

Randy Siegel — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 20:08:13 +0000

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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Smartphones Leaking Data

Randy Siegel — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 19:45:36 +0000

When you use smartphones from big tech companies, you’re often trading your privacy for convenience. These devices are designed to collect vast amounts of data about you, from your location to your browsing habits, and even your conversations. This data is then used to build detailed profiles that are sold to advertisers, used to exploit you, and even handed over to government agencies without your knowledge nor consent.

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Avoiding a Monoculture with Secure Diverse Technology

Randy Siegel — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 16:28:08 +0000

In the world of technology, diversity is not just a virtue, but a necessity. At Purism, a company dedicated to creating secure, privacy-respecting, and freedom-preserving digital solutions, we are deeply concerned about the growing trend of reliance on just a handful of operating systems (OSs). This monoculture in the OS landscape poses significant risks to our digital security, privacy, and freedom [...]

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Your Phone is Giving Away More Than You Ever Bargained For

Randy Siegel — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 00:05:47 +0000

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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