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motivation to deGoogle: Creditors can lock your Android remotely if you are delinquent. (infosec.pub)
submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by to c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
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The technical mechanism:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.devicelock

update

To be clear, I am not the OP who experienced this problem. I just linked them from here.

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[–] 0 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I agree that this makes sense in the context of a creditor securing a loan, but I disagree that getting your phones on credit makes sense.

New, flagship devices can be had around $500 US, which is attainable for most Americans in a fairly short timeframe. Spending years locked into a carrier contract where you don't own your device just doesn't make sense unless you're spending thousands on a foldable device or something.

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  • [–] 8 points 2 years ago

    can be had around $500 US

    attainable for most Americans in a fairly short timeframe

    This is a frankly deranged take considering that 40% of americans dont even have the funds to save for a $400 emergency as of May 2023

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago

    https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/telstra-to-pay-50m-penalty-for-unconscionable-sales-to-indigenous-consumers

    For people who know as much about technology as most people in this discussion the thing to do if short of cash would be to buy a cheaper phone. I recently got myself a quite decent Note9 for $109AU and I could have got something even cheaper if I needed to. But many people aren't as well informed, the above article is one example of people who are less well off being scammed by a corporation.

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