Google Pixels have call screening and anti spam features built in, such a life saver. Even if carriers don’t implement any protections, my phone will continue to do it on its own.
You understand that by submitting every incoming call to Google for verification, they are mapping your network of friends and family, right? This is the stuff Snowden revealed that the NSA (and the five eyes and beyond) were doing…
If one is using Google services which is most likely the case if they’re using one of the popular Android phones that has Call Screen, then Google already has the ability to do that via multiple other avenues like Contacts, Gmail, Calendar, Photos, Docs, call logs and others. Not to mention they have root on every Android phone with Google Apps on it, but let’s assume they’re only collecting what you agreed to. In other words if one is in bed with Google services, adding Call Screen to the mix isn’t increasing the amount of exposure by a significant amount. If we’re in bed with Google anyways and they’re doing everything you mentioned, we may as well get more services rendered for that.
Personally I’m very much in bed with Google ever since the Gmail beta in 2004-5. I’m not ecstatic about it. That’s a risk I’m monitoring and have some mitigations in place for. I’m also not letting anyone else in my bed because every additional bedfellow is additional risk. E.g. Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta or some small questionable entities like Brave.
I’m also not letting anyone else in my bed because every additional bedfellow is additional risk. E.g. Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta or some small questionable entities like Brave.
Hmm, I don’t know if that’s the case? eg. mightn’t giving Google both your search queries and your emails paint a more detailed picture of you than if you gave, say, Microsoft your email so Google only had your search?
You do know that many of these processes are done with on-device intelligence?
Also, telecoms in Canada are worse with privacy since they sell your location data to third parties.
I’m going to move to an iPhone for my next phone and I’m going to miss that feature the most. The call screening and spam call/text detection and handling is sooooo good.
Why move? I came from an iPhone 13 and I’m so much happier now.
iPhones have their advantages such as longer lifespan, better integration with other devices, etc. I personally switched from Android (was a lifelong user) to the iPhone 13 and have been liking it so far.
They are kinda starting to get there. Koodo, Bell, and Telus offer Call Control, which does that “please press [random number] to connect” thing, and is pretty good at screening spam for now.
for now
Thanks for the heads up!
I sometimes think that the entire phone ecosystem is so irreparably broken that eventually we’ll just drift away from it. Of course without a clear destination to drift over to that hasn’t happened yet. May never happen.
That’s a huge part of it.
The global phone system was originally built on the premise that phone companies can trust the call related information provided by other phone companies.
