this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2026
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Privacy
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It is best to run GOS or Lineage OS completely Google-free.
It is best from many points of view but, as far as I understand, this community is about providing knowledge and tools, and leaving it up to the individual users to asses their threat modeling and determine the extent of the acceptable compromise?
Edit: in every use of connected technologies there are privacy trade-offs, and privacy may not be the only concern on a user's plate.
The Fairphone mentioned in the opening has the more ethical production and spare parts support, that can be a concern for many users. Ultimately it's for them to decide. Maybe we bore them and they just get a third hand iPhone, which is still largely a privacy improvement over stock Android.
"Best" only in the context of this thread.
If it's only about degoogling, they can very well use /e/OS and remove the network permission from microG. Yes, it's possible.
LineageOS is not "Google-free". The OS still connects to various Google services by default, even without Google Play Services installed.
https://lineageos.org/ https://www.kuketz-blog.de/lineageos-weder-sicher-noch-datenschutzfreundlich-custom-roms-teil4/
Obviously Graphene OS is the current gold standard for privacy, but you can run a Lineage OS device without Google Play Services, with only free/libre software installation sources, and without the telemetry for those users who can't or won't use current GOS. This is obviously a considerable improvement over a Chinese or other commercial manufacturer.
But, yes, if you can run GOS rather than LOS, you should.
This pretty much not adressing what I said at all. I use LineageOS myself and it's miles better than the Stock Operating Systems of most if not all devices they support. But we shouldn't mislead people, LineageOS is not fully "degoogled" and uses some Google services, even without the Google Play Services installed.
You're engaging in a strawman. Privacy is not a boolean choice, there are degrees. Making a few connections to some Google servers is not the same as having stock Android.
You seem to be unable to understand simple English, so I'll end the conversation here.