Escaping Phone Surveillance Is Getting Harder (Guest Post)

A behind-the-scenes look at how Google’s Android changes are making private mobile devices harder to build and harder to find

Most people assume their only smartphone options are iPhone or (Googled) Android.

But there is a strong market of privacy-friendly phones designed to break that duopoly. These are devices that let you reclaim control over what your phone collects, sends, and shares about you.

They don’t come from Big Tech. And that’s the point.

These phones often run alternative operating systems like CalyxOS, GrapheneOS, or iodéOS. They skip the tracking baked into most devices and give users more transparency and control. The market is still niche and mostly DIY, but it’s expanding, driven by users who want the functionality of a modern smartphone without the surveillance. We discussed some options in a prior post, here:

Instantly Boost Your Privacy by Ditching Google Android and Apple iOS

This week’s guest post comes from a privacy colleague who offers pre-built privacy friendly mobile phones, laptops and even tablets at PriavatePhoneShop.com. The owner of the company has been following a major development that threatens the future of privacy friendly Android operating systems. He'll walk us through what happened, what it means and provide some alternatives if you want to keep Big Tech out of your pocket.

Note that we purchased our current de-Googled phone from PrivatePhoneShop. We got the Pixel 7 Pro running CalyxOS, which is not currently available, but you can grab the Pixel 8 Pro here.

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Remember when Google branded itself as the “open” alternative to Apple?

That mask is slipping.

Google just released Android 16 to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). This time though, they left out the critical parts: the source code that makes Android actually work on Pixel phones.

That’s like Ford publishing car blueprints without the engine. Technically open source. Practically useless.

CalyxOS, one of the leading privacy-focused Android operating systems, says Pixel 6 through 9a models are now unsupported for Android 16 builds, because that missing source code makes development impossible.

Pixel phones used to be the go-to for privacy-focused OS developers. That’s changing. Now those developers have to reverse-engineer Pixel devices like they already do with locked-down Samsung phones.

It’s not an accident. Google has been slowly closing the door on custom OS development:

• SafetyNet became nearly impossible to pass (complicating mobile app development on de-Googled phones).

• More phones shipped with locked bootloaders (which makes it harder to modify the device).

• Now, they’re withholding core device code.

The public excuse will likely be about “security” or “preventing fragmentation.” But the real reason is simpler: control.

Privacy-focused Android distributions like CalyxOS and LineageOS let people run Android without Google’s tracking machine. No Play Services watching every move. No auto-backups to Google Drive. No constant location harvesting.

That’s bad for business, if your business is surveillance advertising.

CalyxOS now says they’ll need to treat Pixel phones like unsupported third-party devices. Translation: expect delays, extra effort, and fewer updates.

Here’s the real takeaway:

Google is turning Android into a closed ecosystem, while still calling it open source. They want the credibility of “open” without actually letting you do anything with the code.

If you care about privacy, it’s time to reconsider your hardware.

A great alternative: the OnePlus 11 running iodéOS. It ships with an unlockable bootloader (for now), works smoothly with custom ROMs, and doesn’t include Google’s tracking services. You get full Android functionality, without the data harvesting.

Everything works, except the spyware.

You can pick one up here.

Or you can go with a Pixel phone running CalyxOS or LineageOS. Pixel models still offer the best support for custom Android operating systems, with unlockable bootloaders and full compatibility, though Google’s recent moves suggest that window may not stay open forever. You can get one here.

Google just reminded us what “open” really means, when a surveillance company holds the keys.

Private Phone Shop helps people break free from Big Tech by offering de-Googled smartphones and Linux laptops that put privacy first, without the premium price tag. Founded in 2021, we were one of the first to make privacy-respecting tech accessible to everyday users. Whether you're a longtime privacy advocate or just getting started, Private Phone Shop makes it simple to take control of your digital life. Browse their products here.

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💡 What is What is iodéOS?

iodéOS is a privacy-focused version of Android. It’s built on the open-source Android code base, but it removes Google tracking and includes built-in privacy protections.

Here’s what sets it apart:

• No Google Play Services
  iodéOS strips out Google's surveillance components and replaces them with open-source alternatives, like Aurora Store (a privacy-friendly way to access apps from the Play Store).

• Built-in tracker blocking
  It comes with a custom firewall that shows which apps are trying to send data and blocks trackers before they phone home.

• Regular security updates
  iodéOS is updated monthly with the latest Android security patches. Devices are maintained as long as they're supported upstream.

• Open source and EU-based
  Developed by a small team in France, iodéOS is fully open source. That transparency matters for trust and auditability.

Open source and privacy: What it means, when it matters

You get the look and feel of Android, with more control over what your device does behind the scenes. Great for anyone looking to increase their privacy without completely giving up app convenience.

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Disclaimer: None of the above is to be deemed legal advice of any kind. These are *opinions* written by a privacy attorney with years of working for, with and against Big Tech and Big Data. And this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended for use in furtherance of any unlawful activity. This post may also contain affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase

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