Why The Freedom Phone Isn’t As Free Of Big Tech As Advertised

A  young startup founder markets the $500 handset to conservatives who want to disconnect from big tech companies they say restrict their freedom.

By Shelly BrisbinSeptember 9, 2021 9:45 am,

Startup social networks and web sites designed to cater to the interests of right-leaning voters have proliferated this year, as conservatives look for ways to circumvent what they feel is the heavy hand of big tech. But a 22-year-old bitcoin millionaire has been selling an actual device that he says provides an alternative to cell phones offered by Apple, Google and other large companies. He calls it the Freedom Phone.

Ttech expert Omar Gallaga told Texas Standard that the Freedom Phone isn’t as free from connections to big tech as originally advertised.

Highlights from this segment:

– Freedom Phone creator Erik Finman used money he made trading bitcoin as a teenager to launch the product in July.

– The phone is based on a Chinese-made handset that uses Google’s Android software. Reviewers say it is not worth the $500 asking price – the handset is valued at around $200 – and has security and privacy problems.

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