⏰ Today is the LAST DAY of our Holiday Sale.

Start the new year off in the right direction — with technology that supports your autonomy instead of quietly undermining it.

If you’ve been meaning to move away from surveillance-based tech, this is your final opportunity to do it with Holiday pricing. The window closes tonight.

👉 https://abovephone.com/holidays

⚡️Unveiling the Truth: Surveillance on Your Phone

Ever wondered how much surveillance is really happening on your smartphone? From regular connections to big tech servers to constant data collection through features like Face ID and app tracking, the level of snooping is extensive. Independent studies have shown that these devices send data back every few minutes, gathering more than we might expect.

In this post, we discuss how reducing reliance on big tech can significantly protect your privacy. By choosing independent and open-source solutions, you can cut out the middleman and minimize the surveillance footprint.

Join us in taking control of your digital life and stepping away from mass surveillance!

📺 Watch the full interview

📲 Use tech without surrendering your privacy. Shop Above.

—
🫶 @takebackourtech
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⚡️#TBOT 20

Here are this week’s stories:

Watch on Substack!

U.S. & EU Exchange Biometrics + Demand Family Data:
The U.S. and EU are planning to share travel data, including biometric data. The ESTA Mobile app could also demand family names, phone numbers, DOBs, residencies, plus your biometrics. Find out the details.

Credit Unions Roll Out Biometric Scanning:
If you use a credit union and try to do an out of state teller transaction, you may have to enroll in biometric verification and submit ID. We break down which network is driving this and what you can do.

Humanoid Robots Are Here:
Boston Dynamics unveiled a production ready robot Atlas. It can work around the clock and handle heavy loads. Do you think this could replace your job?

Personal Knowledge Mgmt:
I tried “private” self hosted PKM systems and only one fit the bill: AnyType. I’ll show you why.

✍️ We’re Accepting #TBOT Contributors
✊ Break the limits of big tech with Above Phone.

It’s true.

https://t.me/takebackourtech/2158

🫨 Disaster Planning for Freedom Tech: FOSS War Room

What the f*** should we do about tyrannical tech lockdowns?

• Age verification on computers
• Digital ID on cell phones
• FOSS apps banned on phones
• Private Cryptocurrency Becomes Illegal

I asked some of the smartest hackers on earth that question at Parallel Society 2026. We war-gamed the tech disaster scenarios that we’re facing, and the audience jumped in with solutions.

Watch the full talk on Substack.

If you don't know about Logos, they produced the event and are authoring a comprehensive technology stack for storage, messaging, and more; the primitives we need for free software of the future.

Check out important tech:

• https://logos.co/
• https://dark.fi/

If you’re interested in learning more about Parallel Society, you can check out the website here:

https://ps.logos.co

📲 Everything your old phone can do while giving you more freedoms & privacy. Learn more at Above.

—
🫶 @takebackourtech
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⚡️NEW CONTENT: Own Your Router with Open-Source Firmware

Earlier this month, the FCC banned all new foreign-made routers. A National Security determination warned that compromised routers "can enable in-depth network surveillance, data exfiltration, botnet attacks, and unauthorized access to U.S. government or American businesses’ networks.".

A little funny considering that most people in the U.S rent routers that behave similarly. Internet service providers encourage customers to use their routers, which are locked down with proprietary firmware. This enables them to monitor your internet usage, open up your network as a public hotspot, or use WiFi sensing to detect who's in your house.

It seems we already have enough to worry about at home, and lots of reasons to own our routers. I had the pleasure of chatting with Daniel — an experienced open‑source networking engineer. Regaled by his deep knowledge of Wi‑Fi firmware, open‑source router projects, and mesh networks I asked him for a short interview. The interview will dive into the future of open‑source networking, practical advice for home‑router users, and the changes he believes are needed to give users more control over their own connectivity.

👉 Read the article
📱 If you want real solutions, start with Above.

—
🫶 @takebackourtech
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⚡️Privacy Is Freedom

At some point, you have to take responsibility for what you’re putting out there. For some people, this is life or death.

I’m looking ahead to 2027, where digital ID starts becoming a requirement for businesses across the EU and beyond. That’s not just policy. That’s infrastructure for control.

So the answer is alternatives. Alternative software, alternative businesses, and bringing things back in person where possible.

Privacy is everything.

🪧 Watch the full interview here

📱 Privacy shouldn’t be complicated. Above Phone makes it simple.

—
🫶 @takebackourtech
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Data-only SIM plans can be confusing, but choosing the right one comes down to compatibility, location, plan type, data needs, activation, and privacy.

All Above Phone devices are eSIM compatible by default, but your device also needs to be carrier unlocked. From there, choose the country or region where you’ll use the eSIM, then decide between a monthly subscription for regular use or prepaid for travel and occasional access.

With Above DataSIM, activation is simple: scan the QR code sent to your email and you’re ready to go.

No identity verification is required, and we don’t collect unnecessary personal data.

🔗 Read the full blog post here

📱 Stay connected without handing your life to the carriers. Go Above with DataSIM.

—
🫶 @takebackourtech
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We’re proud to partner with the Better Way Conference New England for a giveaway built around what we do best: making privacy practical.

The winner will receive a complete Above Phone bundle, including a ready-to-use privacy phone, protective gear, a storage drive, and expert support to help them get started.

Enter now
https://betterwayconference.org/giveaway

Learn more: https://abovephone.com/betterway/

📲The Pixel 10 Lineup, Rebuilt for Privacy

The Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold run GrapheneOS and come fully de-Googled, configured, secured, and ready to use out of the box.

Instead of starting with built-in Google services, tracking, and unnecessary setup, Above prepares your device with privacy-focused apps, safer defaults, and support so you can actually use the phone without giving up your data.

With the Pixel 10 lineup, you get premium performance, long-lasting battery life, advanced security, and more options to choose the phone that fits your workflow.

🔗 Read the full blog post here

📱 Get the latest Pixel hardware without the Big Tech defaults.

💻 Reclaim Control with Above Book

A Linux laptop gives you something most mainstream systems no longer prioritize: control.

Instead of being locked into ecosystems built around data collection, subscriptions, forced updates, and silent tracking, you get an operating system built around transparency, customization, and user ownership.

The Above book is ready to use out of the box, with open-source apps, full disk encryption, active firewalls, a privacy-hardened browser, and no big tech integrations.

Switching isn’t just about choosing a different operating system. It’s about reclaiming your digital sovereignty and using a device that respects your privacy by default, not as an afterthought.

🔗 Read the full blog post

💻 Own your computer. Own your journey.

—
🫶 @takebackourtech
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