Freedom Phone: why to avoid it and what else to know

Most of us have a “it’s complicated” relationship with our phones when it comes to privacy and social media. A new handset called the Freedom Phone promises to prioritize “freedom of speech and privacy” above anything else. You might assume that the Freedom Phone follows the trend of phone makers like Apple makes it harder to unintentionally share your data, and for companies to follow you. The Freedom Phone website, which has no less than 10 “buy” buttons, says, “Not just making America great. But also make a great phone ”. It is clear that the Freedom Phone is saturated with politics.

If you’re looking for a phone that protects your privacy, look elsewhere. The Freedom Phone has a lot of red flags.

In one start the videoSelf-proclaimed “bitcoin millionaire” Erik Finman, who funds the phone, says Freedom OS protects your privacy and has an “uncensored” app store. The PatriApp store claims to offer applications banned by “Big Tech”. In the video, Finman shows a turned off phone that looks like a budget Chinese phone that sells for a quarter of the Freedom Phone’s $ 500 price. It doesn’t share the basic specs or technical details of the phone, like it runs on the faster 5G data networks that every carrier in the US deploys.

Read more: 5G myths, debunked

The Freedom Phone and its politically conservative branding will appeal to many. But there is nothing to suggest that the phone, its privacy claims, or its avoidance of “Big Tech” is working the way Finman suggests. Since the announcement, numerous publications and privacy experts have raised questions and concerns about the security of the phone and whether Finman is being completely frank with potential buyers.

The fact that the phone is already available to order – and that there are more buy buttons on the website than the phone’s hardware specs outlining the phone’s capabilities – are all red flags. The phone is marketed entirely on its politically conservative branding and appears to be nothing more than a savvy entrepreneur looking to make money from frustrated Tories. Facebook and Twitter banning former President Donald Trump. I contacted Freedom Phone and Finman for comment and to get more information on the phone.

I also ordered a Freedom Phone to test it out, but I don’t recommend buying it at this time.

What is the Freedom Phone?

It’s a new phone that promises to protect your privacy and allow free speech without censorship across the device. In his promotional video, Finman says the Freedom Phone “does everything your current phone does except censor or spy on you.” He says it’s comparable to the best smartphones on the market. He goes on to say that everyone complains about “Big Tech censorship” but nobody is doing anything about it. On the video screen, a generic tweet is displayed, dated December 18, attributed to Twitter user “@twitteruser” which reads: “BUILD YOUR OWN PHONE!” To which Finman replies, “So I did it.” the The displayed Twitter account is a real address whose last message was dated November 5, 2013.

Does the Freedom Phone actually work?

We do not know. In the launch video, the phone stays off all the time. This could indicate that the software is not ready for viewing. We asked Freedom Phone for more details.

Why is the Freedom Phone controversial?

Whenever a handset vendor makes a claim about a phone’s functionality, it is the company’s responsibility to demonstrate and explain how those features work. Freedom Phone’s website, launch video, and Finman’s posts on Twitter give few details about the phone or how its protections work. The lack of technical details and the fact that the company is already accepting money for pre-orders reinforces our skepticism about the company’s ability to fulfill those orders as well as its lofty privacy claims.

How much does the Freedom Phone cost?

It is listed at $ 500. It’s the same price as a Galaxy A52 5G, a Google Pixel 4A 5G, and an iPhone XR.

Read more: Best phones under $ 500 in 2021

Is the Freedom Phone just a famous Chinese $ 120 Android phone?

The Freedom Phone has the slogan: “Made for Tories by Tories.” It turns out that it is actually made by a Chinese company called Umidigi, based in Shenzhen. In an interview with The Daily Beast, Finman confirmed that Umidigi made the Freedom Phone but did not specify which phone design Umidigi is used.

Matthew Hickey, a cybersecurity expert who co-founded Hacker House, told The Daily Dot that the Freedom Phone is a Chinese phone called the Umidigi A9 Pro that can be purchased on AliExpress for as little as $ 119. He said the A9 Pro is sold in bulk with custom logos and branding.

In a tweet, Finman wrote, “We designed this between my design lab and our partner in Hong Kong to create a custom phone.”

Should I buy a Freedom Phone?

No. Even if all of Finman’s claims about the Freedom Phone turn out to be true, it’s best to wait until the devices are available to test the company’s claims.

Is the Freedom Phone a scam?

Finman didn’t explain how the phone works, or how it protects your privacy or freedom of speech. Despite claims to date, the basic technical and software details of the Freedom Phone are lacking, giving customers very little to do. While I can’t call it a scam, I would approach this handset with caution until it is available for testing.

What Makes the Freedom Phone Secure?

Finman says the phone won’t track your apps, keystrokes, or location, but he doesn’t explain how. The phone’s Freedom operating system has a security guard called Trust.

“With powerful tools like Trust, you control what your apps can do when you want. Trust will help you understand your device’s security and alert you to possible threats.”

We have never heard of Trust. Maybe this is something the Finman team has developed. Again, there are no details on how it works or where it came from. It is not clear if Freedom OS is based on Android. And just a reminder that the “Big Tech” company Google makes Android.

Google frequently updates Android with software upgrades and security fixes that this phone probably wouldn’t get.

What makes the Freedom Phone “uncensored”?

The website says the Freedom Phone has an “uncensored” PatriApp store featuring apps banned by the Google Play store and the iOS App Store. What is not clear is whether there are policies in the PatriApp store that protect against illicit criminal activity, hate speech, graphic and sexual material, or pedophilia. Is the PatriApp store basically like the 4chan of app stores?

It’s also unclear how the phone would handle technical details like IP tracking, website cookies, or other conventional tracking tools used on phones and other electronic devices. We do not know if the Freedom Phone has received FCC clearance.

On which operators does the Freedom Phone work?

Freedom Phone’s website says it will work with “Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile & Sprint and all other national and international carriers.” Lister Sprint is curious because, in 2020, T-Mobile officially closed its $ 26.5 billion merger with Sprint.

How does the Freedom Phone protect against carrier tracking?

It is not clear and the issue is not discussed on the Freedom Phone website.

If the Freedom Phone avoids “Big Tech”, why does it work on all major US carriers?

It is not clear either. In Finman’s promotional video, “Big Tech” is used extensively in the context of Twitter and Facebook banning former President Trump after using his accounts to stir up a crowd that has invaded the Capitol Jan 6.

When can I order a Freedom Phone?

The Freedom Phone is available for pre-order now. We strongly advise against ordering it.

When does the Freedom Phone ship?

Phone units would arrive in August.

Where to buy a Freedom Phone?

For the moment, only on the Freedom Phone site.

What applications does the Freedom Phone run?

The website displays icons for Parler, NewsMax, OANN, Rumble, DuckDuckGo web browser, and Telegram encrypted messaging. But it’s unclear whether it will be able to run productivity apps like Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat, social media apps like TikTok or Snapchat, dating apps like Tinder or Grindr, or video games.

What are the specifications of the Freedom Phone?

It has a 6-inch screen which Finman says is edge to edge. In the video, it never shows the Freedom OS powered screen. The photos show a dual SIM card tray with a slot for expandable storage. Aside from Finman saying things like “a great camera,” “comparable to the best smartphones on the market,” and a “super fast processor,” the specs are unknown.

Is the Freedom Phone “comparable to the best smartphones” as Finman claims?

We have strong doubts. The design shown in the video looks like dozens of budget Android phones we’ve seen over the years. It doesn’t look upscale. The screen has a teardrop cutout for the selfie camera, which is a design choice that many Android phones had three years ago.

Who owns Freedom Phone?

According to its website, Freedom Phone is owned by Finman, LLC in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Eric Finman is listed as an agent and organizer of the company.

Who is Freedom Phone billionaire founder Erik Finman?

Finman grew up in Idaho. In 2013, at the age of 14, he allegedly bought 100 Bitcoin ($ 1,000) which by the age of 20 was worth over $ 1 million. In 2017, he founded the education startup Botangle. In 2019, he invested in a cryptocurrency company called Metal Pay to be a competitor to Facebook’s upcoming Libra cryptocurrency (now called Diem).