this post was submitted on 15 Jul 2025
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Microblog Memes

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Literal Hostage Situation (europe.pub)
submitted 5 days ago by ecrevisse@feddit.org to c/microblogmemes@lemmy.world
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Alt Text:

Google photos on ios is literally a hostage situation. Remove key functionalities like copying an image or editing an image unless you give them full unrestricted access to your entire photo library. (The holy grail of surveillance capitalism data). Data extortion masquerading as a service.

OP

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[–] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 23 points 5 days ago (4 children)

Is this real?

I'm so used to computer-things being files I edit sovereignly on my device that I find it hard to understand the serfware.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 6 points 5 days ago

I'm so used to computer-things being files I edit sovereignly on my device that I find it hard to understand the serfware.

I like your framing and terminology!

[–] BigDiction@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago

It is real. Even granting limited access to Google photos will lock down key functionality. I was on Android until just recently with a decade of content I still want to access on an iPhone.

I need to follow these instructions but haven’t made the time for it: https://support.apple.com/en-us/120924

[–] real_squids@sopuli.xyz 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I can believe that, even on android their functionality has been declining for years. Can still edit (poorly), and copy on my slightly outdated version, but overall the experience is worse than before.

[–] 6nk06@sh.itjust.works 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

Android is not good either. Google Calendar requires access to all my contacts to run. Nope.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 5 days ago

Android isn't really that hard to like 90% de-google, you can replace most google apps with FOSS alternatives, then disable and deny all permissions to almost all google apps, even uninstall many... you can do that all without root, without even ADB.

To get to 100%, yeah, you're gonna need ADB and root and some kind of replacement OS... but you can do a lot without it.

[–] real_squids@sopuli.xyz 2 points 5 days ago

I might be on an old enough version that it still functions as intended without that permission (its from 2021 lol). Photos on the other hand nags you to update and eventually completely stops you from using it unless you "update". Thankfully I can disable both apps so it's not a big deal for me

[–] ecrevisse@feddit.org 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Yup, literally went through it today. When helping my family member with their phone.