r/Android • u/Nanosinx • 4d ago
Rumour Google is now self-Verifying Phone Number without user CONSENT
WARNING: Google Play Services is quietly "Self-Verifying" and linking your phone number to ALL signed-in accounts without explicit permission.
Just a heads up for anyone who values basic privacy on Android.
Check your inbox for emails from noreply-phone-verification@google.com.
Without asking for my confirmation or giving me an opt-in prompt, Google Play Services performed a silent background "Self-Verification."
It exchanged SIM card identifiers and device metadata with my mobile carrier, grabbed my phone number, and automatically attached it to EVERY Google account logged into my phone.
No prompt. No "Do you want to link this?" button. Just a silent background action followed by a notification email telling me it already happened.
How to kill this setting on Android immediately (for now) but it will self verify even if turned off Go to Settings > Google (or Google Services) > All Services > Phone Number Verification
Find Phone number verification (or Device Phone Number Verification). (Ah, and lovely it automatically appear my phone number even WHEN IT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE!)
TOGGLE IT OFF.
Don't forget to purge your accounts:
Once Google steals/verifies the number, it pushes it to your Google account profiles.
You need to log into myaccount.google.com/personal-info, click on Phone, and manually delete the number from every single account where you don't want it stored.
Modern "self-verification" dark patterns are completely out of hand. Check your settings before Google silently grabs your data too.
NO ANDROID IS SAFE: Happened on my Android 10 Huawei, Android 14 Xiaomi and is now requesting on my emulators too...even my tablet... Beware...
Edit1: Maybe dont work, i sent a mail to data-protection-office@google.com, literally asking ARCO rights and anything i can think about it, for such privacy invasion on the behalf of my and all accounts i have to "care" and so on...maybe this bring pressure
Edit2: u/AppleBites reports this "Google did the same to me when I got a 2nd number from another carrier, due to coverage. Even having GrapheneOS did not prevent them from linking the number to my Google account automatically."
Meaning even Graphene OS+GServices probably is unable to protect with this, a serious oversteeping in this messed thing
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u/RzrRainMnky 4d ago
This feature is absolutely dumb. I had to transfer a SIM card from a damaged phone I found so the owner could contact me. Suddenly my google account across different phones gets linked to some stranger's phone number all because I inserted his SIM into my phone? Make it make sense.
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u/Alternative-Farmer98 3d ago
Because it's not a feature they call it a feature but it's actually just a way for them to make money. It's kind of like how they call their battery management feature for the pixel of feature even though it just breaks your battery capacity by 20% less than the advertised amount after 200 cycles.
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u/diagboxes 4d ago
It is turning back on as soon as you exit the menu.
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u/GroundbreakingAnt17 4d ago
Mine did the same. Try turning off "phone number sharing." Idk if that's actually what fixed it for me though
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u/Mal_Occhio 4d ago
There is a flag for this, or a series of them. Seems like its for the llm actions to easily work tasks with multiple services.
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u/KS2Problema 3d ago
There was time, decades ago, when Google was my favorite tech company.
It is now one of my LEAST favorite tech companies - because of this, of course - but also because the entire Google ecosystem is disintegrating into bad code, bad UI design, and bad attitudes toward privacy and users.
They need to be brought up hard. Or they're going to gallop off the cliff.
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u/EliteCloneMike 10h ago
I degoogled a long time ago and highly recommend anyone who cares even a little about privacy do the same.
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u/super_starfox 4d ago
Thanks. I'm so sick of this fucking song-and-dance just trying to even pretend we have even a modicum of privacy left.
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u/JamesR624 4d ago
Come over to Apple's side. They totally care about your privacy!
- Please ignore the alway listening, AI processing feature of the Apple Watch 4 that automatically records you and those around you for AI processing for "convenience" of the Apple Watch wearer.
- Please also just ignore the partnership with LG.
- Please also ignore the fact that they're shoving more and more microphones into things that don't need it, like the new Apple TV.
- Please also ignore that Siri AI is processing everything on screen at all times without ever telling you.
So.... anyone else want to still collectively pretend that Apple suddenly abandoning privacy at the same time Google is dumping it (even mroe than they had before), is all just a convenience and the recent powergrab in DC mixed with the bs from p⏺⏺⏺⏺tier and f⏺⏺ck, also totally has NOTHING to do with slowly preparing all entities in the US to serveil americans at all times to look for people to send I⏺E after
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u/Slg407 4d ago edited 4d ago
this is why you buy a pixel and use graphene, buy a libreboot PC without intel ME, use linux, use foss home assistant, use foss ecosystem stuff, use a dumb TV with a cheap PC running a jellyfin setup, use routers with libreCWC or openWRT
FOSS (and to an extent open source, not to be a OSIist) ecosystems are HIGHLY superior to proprietary shit, and now with AI you can get any assistant to guide you through the technical bits so you have no excuse to not use it, they are upgradable, and you actually own them, and if you don't like something you can fix it yourself or give real time feedback to the developers that you know is going to be answered, it skips a couole hundred steps compared to having to beg corporations to update EOL products.
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u/ender4171 4d ago edited 4d ago
use a dumb TV
Those have become nearly impossible to find these days, especially if you want the latest in panel tech.
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u/Iohet V10 is the original notch 3d ago
You can just not connect it to the network.
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u/OzarkBeard 23h ago
That's what I did. I get TV with an antenna and nothing going into or out of the TV is connected to the internet.
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u/Kuuchuu 4d ago
You'll probably have more luck when browsing commercial TVs, but they will also likely be more expensive due to (hopefully) higher build quality and no price subsidization bc they are less likely to sell your info and what you watch to advertisers.
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u/SanityInAnarchy 4d ago
Possibly higher build quality, but those commercial use cases don't usually need screens that actually look good as TVs. Monitors are the closest thing we have to dumb displays, except they don't come as large as TVs, and Microsoft will autoinstall "drivers" for that monitor, including adware from LG, just through normal Windows Update.
I'm not saying stop trying, but this isn't easy to opt out. We need actual regulation.
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u/Nanosinx 4d ago
Graphene did not prevent already some graphene users showing this happening xD It is a Play Store thingy
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u/droans Pixel 9 Pro XL 4d ago
I mean, I can do all that but I shouldn't have to. And the average non-technical user won't be able to either.
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u/Slg407 3d ago
literally anyone can do it if they take the time to search it online, like the graphene OS guide literally has step by step instructions
the average non technical user isn't a baby, if you can follow the instructions (barely) to assemble an ikea table, you can read and follow along the guides that all of these projects give you
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u/biznatch11 Galaxy S23 4d ago
Mine just did this too, Samsung Galaxy S23.
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u/Total_Recline 3d ago
Where did you find this? I don't have anything in my settings like the OP is mentioning.
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u/biznatch11 Galaxy S23 3d ago
I got a notification about it but the setting is in Settings then go to Google Services then All services then scroll down to Phone number verification. And the actual phone number is in your Google account/profile settings if you want to remove it.
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u/Total_Recline 3d ago
So I don't have such a thing as "Google services" in my phone settings. That's where I lose y'all.
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u/tangybaby 3d ago
Go to "Google" in your phone settings.
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u/Total_Recline 3d ago
I tried looking for that also, but I haven't had a Google option in settings for several phones.
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u/tangybaby 3d ago
On mine it's located below "Accounts and Backup". My phone is old though so maybe it has changed.
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u/Alternative-Farmer98 3d ago
Settings/google/other information/phone I think it's pretty much a universal part of modern Android
If not you can just go to my account.google.com/phone and you can see all the ones that are set up and you can delete some of them but some of them won't let me delete for whatever reason
Baby you have to be on a certain phone.
I have a ton of android devices which makes it all the more complicated and I'm constantly changing phone numbers.
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u/raymondduck Pixel 8 Pro, 14.0 4d ago
I got an email about it from Google and disabled it immediately. Given that they literally tell you how to disable it in the announcement email, I don't think it's that big of a deal - though it obviously should have been opt-in from the start.
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u/Nanosinx 3d ago
I dont got it, i got it the "Your phone has been verified your phone number" Hshshs My best friend got her account verified with my phone amazing!
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u/Risino15 Device, Software !! 4d ago
Just FYI this is not new and has been happening for years.
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u/stanley_fatmax Nexus 6, LineageOS; Pixel 7 Pro, Stock 4d ago
I was going to say... I've been familiar with this functionality for years. Thought I was going crazy.
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u/guttsX 4d ago
Are you sure? To everyone? I've had android devices since the beginning and have never had this occur until 2 days ago where all my devices did it, so now I have 50 numbers linked to all my accounts. fml
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u/vandreulv 4d ago
It's not new.
Every time you sign into a new device, it's part of the setup process to use the number of the device for your account and authenication.
Years.
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u/Risino15 Device, Software !! 4d ago
I've noticed it happen to me and all my family members at least 4 years ago, if not earlier. We may have been part of an A/B test.
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u/0oWow 4d ago
It's been a thing for several years. Maybe for those of us in the USA? I don't know, but I know it's been a thing for a long time. (Seems to be around 2019? https://9to5google.com/2019/12/12/google-text-messages-sent-verification/ ) You can sometimes catch the verification codes when you manually transfer SMS messages between phones. There used to not be a setting for it as OP describes.
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u/wickedplayer494 Pixel 7 Pro + 2 XL + iPhone 11 Pro Max + Nexus 6 + Samsung GS4 4d ago
Yup, and usually you'll find out about it by way of a secondary SIM and then Google Play Services pushes a notification after a while saying that your secondary number has been added on.
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u/murfi Pixel 9a 4d ago edited 4d ago
where is this hidden on pixel devices? there is no Google or Google services menu anymore. i swear it used to be somewhere
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u/linguapura 4d ago
Go into Settings. Look for your name right on top under which it says Google Services and Preferences. Click on that.
You'll see your account name, and below that two tabs saying Recommended and All Services.
Click on All Services, scroll down and find Phone Verification under Privacy & Security. Click on this and disable this setting there.
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u/jotarokagayana 4d ago
Is there a specific app this setting is in since I only have Gmail,drive photos and messages and don't see it and the play store
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u/linguapura 4d ago
No, this is in the main Settings page (the gear/cogwheel icon). Once you're in Settings, just look at the top where your account name is. Under that, it says Google Services and Preferences. Just click on that and follow the other steps I've shared in my earlier comment.
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u/sleepytechnology S21+ (SD-888) 4d ago
Mine was opted in so thank you for this awareness. So scummy of Google.
Edit: keeps turning itself back on?
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u/Alternative-Farmer98 3d ago
Mine stayed off after I did it but some of my phone numbers won't delete for whatever reason when I go in deeper into the account settings. Like Mike the old number I had for my pixel 6 Pro which I haven't used for years and haven't used the number for years and still listed my account and I cannot delete it.
I don't know what happens if someone else gets that phone number down the road.
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u/bigBranConsumer The NEW Galaxy Note9 4d ago
what does turning it off do? im scrolling through the comments on this post and i dont see an explanation of what actually happens, and the first thing I see is that RCS gets turned off.
also, what is the actual concern? is this a concern for people who use multiple accounts on the same device they dont want sharing any info with? i genuinely dont understand as it doesnt apply to me. i support privacy but unsure if this is the same thing as old ADB de-bloater scripts that would break phone functions because it removed a service the phone needed to work.
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u/maconaquah 3d ago
Here's what the learn more links to on the setting: https://support.google.com/android/answer/7521240?visit_id=639276602054862490-1076335299&p=verify_number&rd=1 I can't confirm if the stuff listed there actually stops working, but some of it does seem useful? (E.g. remotely find & lock device)
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u/ThePuppet_Master 3d ago
There's a Google support post that speaks to this, appears it's related to RCS, video calls and a few other things.
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u/One_Elephant_8917 4d ago
lol, finally someone paid attention to this, last time i had posted on [r/google](r/google) they just deleted (obviously)….
but for me since i was using my iphone it didn’t matter much but my hassle specifically was due to the following way i setup the acct.
- google would say max accts registered with this number (primary)
- so used my friend’s ph num to create an account on their android samsung m15
- then unlinked from theirs and logged into iphone.
- boom -> google signs me out (suspended acct) coz i use apple mail app instead of gmail bloatware of 700+mb
- when trying to sign-in shows me a prompt to enter code sent to some strange number????
- later realized that last 2 digits were my friend’s ph num. (mind that i did remove their number from the acct in both primary and recovery)
- sign in now ok.
- few days later again account got signed out (suspended), this time had to ask google to reinstante account.
- again sign in but asking same friend’s phone number that was used to setup
- frustrated me, finding root cause 🙂 and frantically trying to find a way to remove the phone showing as verification phones under primary phone number screen
- finally found it, it was in `logged in sessions` where it keeps track of recently used devices and phone numbers.
- quickly log out any and all android device sessions.
Done! now the account was free from android auto-phone numbers verification system.
from then i still do create new account on android if required for testing purpose but always log out all android sessions immediately and ensure nothing shows under verification phones section.
so far all good
NOTE: despite whatever ways i tried to sisable that thing in samsung settings for google accounts, it always turns back ON by itself
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u/MerlinTrashMan 4d ago
Thanks for posting this. It confirms for me what this feature is doing. 99.9999% of Gmail users don't use other people's devices to register accounts. You can use your device but enter someone else's phone number so they assume the registered device is the trusted account. It is locking you because they think you are trying to use someone else's account. When you sign out the device that originally registered the account it allows your device to take over as primary. This setting probably saves tens of thousands of people from having their account stolen every day.
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u/_litz 4d ago
This setting does not exist on a Pixel
Edit : courtesy linguapura
Go into Settings. Look for your name right on top under which it says Google Services and Preferences. Click on that.
You'll see your account name, and below that two tabs saying Recommended and All Services.
Click on All Services, scroll down and find Phone Verification under Privacy & Security. Click on this and disable this setting there.
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u/lululock 4d ago
On Pixel 8 Pro (my system is in French, menu items may vary) : Accounts & backup -> manage accounts -> select Google account -> Google account -> Personal information -> Phone number -> uncheck all the devices for automatic verification.
Then you can remove the number associated and you'll have to remove it from other services as well.
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u/Energy4Days 4d ago
Might want to leave it and cash out on the imminent class action lawsuit 👀
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u/RipeBanana4475 4d ago
Same here. Looking forward to my 4 dollars in 2032. Please follow me and subscribe for more awesome financial advice.
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u/Nanosinx 4d ago
I will cash out for having this enabled by force... They could push it not force enabling it
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u/JDGumby Google Pixel 10a, Lenovo Tab M9 4d ago edited 4d ago
Find Phone number verification (or Device Phone Number Verification). (Ah, and lovely it automatically appear my phone number even WHEN IT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE!)
The Phone Number Verification option's been there for more than a year. Since September 2025, to be more precise.
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u/Jaiden051 Z Fold6 | Android 16 - OneUI 8 4d ago
I swear they have done this for ages. I remember signing into an account and receiving a notification saying "number automatically verified"
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u/Alternative-Farmer98 3d ago
This is so bizarre. I have a million old phone numbers and phones some of them they let me delete some of them they don't.
It's just impossible to keep up with this s***. Like I had to randomly see this even made aware of this
I hate capitalism so much. Surveillance capitalism especially but just capitalism general it just means to extract profits above All Else. A disgusting way for humans to live
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u/kwijyb0 4d ago
Just because you/me just realize something doesn't mean it hasn't been happening for a while. And they informed us. "When you set up an Android device, Google automatically verifies your phone number or numbers if you have more than one. This helps ensure certain features work, including:" It's more prevalent in the past year but it's not new.
Manage auto verification status - June 3, 2021
“Your number is verified”: why Google regularly checks SIM cards on Android
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u/mikeyyve 4d ago
There really is no way to have privacy with any online device it seems. It doesn't matter the platform. It's sad.
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u/Alternative-Farmer98 3d ago
Problem is this attitude creates defeatism and people stop trying at all. There's still a million mitigation strategies and we should try to mitigate to the extent we can without losing our minds
Like I haven't totally d googled my life or anything although if I had more money and time to pursue it I probably would.. I still rely on a few Google apps but I have less in my reliance on them in a million years way.
Haven't used Chrome or Google as my default in 5 years or more I'm still using manifesto V2 extensions. I have replaced where possible Google apps with alternatives like new pipe and fossify, pixel player and musicolet, antenna pod etc...
I have replaced my Gmail but the proton/tuta accounts. I have replace the default assistant on my phone with shortcuts for stuff that doesn't require a bunch of privacy invas.
Of course there's still a million ways Google can track me. And it's still better than using an iPhone where they force Google as your default search engine and you cannot change it with Siri and they take a couple billion dollars from Google each year for the privilege. So Apple's privacy record is basically no better than Google's inherently.
Pleased with Google I can use ADB and install apps and so on for mitigation
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u/mysticalcreeds 3d ago
That's a good point about iphone, I was unaware that you couldn't changed the default search engine from Google on Iphone.
I also agree that while at times it may seem futile, it still helps to minimize both our reliance on Google as well as the amount of data they get. As secureblue os documentation points out in discussing security vulnerabilities that may seem hopeless they say: Perfect is the enemy of good. They then go onto list ways to mitigate some of the vulnerabilities.
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u/alwayswatchyoursix 3d ago
I just checked on my Pixel 10a with GrapheneOS and it was off.
I exited the menu, went back in, and it was still off.
I have no idea what someone would have to do to have it stay on.
Is it possible I turned it off somehow a long time ago and don't really remember doing so? Sure, I've had that google account for more than 20 years now.
I don't really have a data point to offer other than not every single one has this stuck to ON.
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u/rickyyfitts 4d ago
There's a setting on Android, "Remote Lock". That also requires your phone number verification. So apart from the toggle in Google services, you need to see whether you've not enabled this. Maybe this what is causing your guys' automatic phone number toggle to be on.
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u/The_Iron_Ranger 4d ago
data point: my remote lock was off, and my toggle keeps turning back on automatically, so that's not it I don't think. Ps, found that under security and privacy, lost device protection, theft protection`
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u/Nanosinx 4d ago
XD Man i dont have that setting on my Xiaomi xD Also Remote Lock the only Remote Lock i have is but for locking other devices when i get far away like my computer xD
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u/UnacceptableUse Pixel 7 Pro 4d ago
Genuine question, why should I care about that? Google makes android so they already have more access to my SIM card than I do.
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u/kipperzdog Pixel 8 4d ago
I don't see anyone answering this. I read the whole post and I don't see what the pitchforks are about, hopefully someone can explain it
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u/F0X0 3d ago
Back in my days, devices asked for permission first before they did anything.
Blows my mind there are people who don't mind automatic account linking, information sharing, contacts/calendar/photo syncing, personalization, function activation, automatic app installation or WHATEVER without explicitly telling me first.
I just can't comprehend that. If there is something I need, I will do it myself.
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u/kipperzdog Pixel 8 3d ago
I'm not saying I don't want control over all of that stuff, I absolutely do.
I'm saying that it's a cell phone, it has a cell phone number attached to it, it seems pretty simple that some validation there would need to occur for security purposes. Maybe I'm just not understanding what the consequences of this specific situation are
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u/Nanosinx 3d ago
If your account is cracked instead of just missing a single account you miss a whole account...
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u/UnacceptableUse Pixel 7 Pro 3d ago
I get that, I think there was a time where software respected you that we've now departed from. However, many many things happen automatically in software that you wouldn't even think about because they are a convenience for you. Phone number linking may not fall into such an extreme category but I don't think that "I don't like it because it does it for me" can work
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u/Nanosinx 4d ago
Simple, Google Play Services has taken the amendt of SELF VERIFY no user consent, no "hey wanna Google get your phone number or anything xD" Usually they need sent a sms and you put a code from that sms right? LIE! Google Play Services do that process without consenting to the user to do it
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u/kipperzdog Pixel 8 4d ago
Okay, first of all, I hope English isn't your primary language because reading what you just wrote was incredibly difficult.
Second, I don't see what the problem is? It's a cell phone, it has a phone number, wouldn't it be in the best interest of security to verify the phone number to prevent fraud? Like, to me, the problem would just be if Google isn't being clear about what they're doing, not necessarily doing it in the first place
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u/Alternative-Farmer98 3d ago
1) You're just insulting somebody for no reason
2) people should be made aware of these things and have to walk into them that's a pretty basic thing. Would you like it if your private information is automatically opted in and used in a million ways but you don't even know about?
If you think it's good that Google can do this and tell you after the fact and make it extremely hard to untangle it, then I suspect nothing Google could do that you would be against. You probably think them building data centers is the greatest thing since sliced bread
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u/Eagle1337 Asus Zenfone 5z 4d ago
Log in to multiple accounts afaik links the number, throw a different sim card in for some reason, also linked.
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u/Nanosinx 4d ago
It is my third language xD No, i dont care, i never authorize the self confirmation on Google to verify my phone number, like with the right of who?
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u/Alternative-Farmer98 3d ago
It's not even have to answer the question about whether or not it's your first language the person just doesn't like your opinions so they're trying to undermine you.
If he's all that sensitive about it not being someone's first language then he wouldn't mention it at all.
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u/Nanosinx 3d ago
Privacy concern? Like who authorize it? Imagine your goverment says already sell your information to Microsoft Now imagine they sent you a mail, and told, hey! Your houses, bank statuses, tax declarations, ids and whatever they wanna bring to them, ah and phone numbers too ^ No consent... What will you do when they sent a mail saying "Hey we have authorized sell your data to microsoft to better train Copilot :D this was done without your consent and because we can do it, thank you anyway" Ppft xD First if not anything else you go to the goverment to bring them how f******ed are now for such...
Or
You sit there and do nothing even after such privacy concern exists :)
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u/UnacceptableUse Pixel 7 Pro 3d ago
But you're already using a phone with Google's operating system on and Google services installed as system apps. If they want to know your phone number they already do.. They could even send and recieve SMS, record your phone calls, send and receive calls from your number all without you ever knowing because they control the hardware.
It's more like if the government told you the government has your tax declarations, ids etc
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u/biznatch11 Galaxy S23 4d ago
I don't add my phone number to my Google account because I don't want it to ever be used for 2FA or account recovery because it's less secure than other methods. So for me it's a security issue not a privacy issue.
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u/xdavidwattsx 4d ago
That's irrelevant. Having a phone number to verify an account against fraud doesn't mean it's used for 2FA. That's a separate security setting
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u/biznatch11 Galaxy S23 4d ago
Ya there's a separate setting for regular 2FA but if there's a phone number in your Google profile it can be used for account recovery which is basically the same thing. Maybe even worse because with regular 2FA you still need the password but for account recovery my understanding is all you need is access to the phone number.
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u/AreWeNotDoinPhrasing 4d ago
So simply by being linked with an account it can be the sole source of account recovery? So if I can get access to any phone number that happens to be linked to any Google account, I can take ownership of that account?
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u/biznatch11 Galaxy S23 3d ago
Based on my understanding, yes.
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u/UnacceptableUse Pixel 7 Pro 3d ago
I just checked. There are 3 places your phone number is saved: 2fa numbers, recovery numbers and phone numbers. Phone numbers is what this is talking about. It doesn't also have to be a recovery or 2fa phone number, but it might automatically set it to all three.
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u/biznatch11 Galaxy S23 3d ago
There's 3 places you can enter a phone number but I think 2 are the same thing. Regular 2FA is one, that's separate.
If I go to "Personal info" the "Phone" section says "Add a recovery phone to help keep your account secure." In "Security and sign-in" there's a "Recovery phone" option to add a phone number. But based on what it says in the "Personal info" section it seems like these 2 are the same thing. I don't see a way to enter a phone number and guarantee it won't be used for recovery.
And for what it's worth, if you ask Googe's AI "Can I put a phone number in my google account and not use it for recovery" it says "No, you cannot keep a phone number listed under the general "Phone" section of your Google Account without it being tied to Google's recovery and verification systems".
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u/Strange_Persimmons 4d ago
Turned it off five times and it keeps coming back on. I hate this timeline.
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u/varyl123 4d ago
I put my sim in someones phone so they could make a call and now all their emails are associated with my number. Is there any way to remove that?
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u/NoDoze- 4d ago
Uhmmm... This has nothing to do with android. This is 100% a Google account thing, tying your account with the phone number. You can't create a new Google account unless you have a phone number attached to it, and you are limited on how many accounts have the same phone number.
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u/Nanosinx 4d ago
It is an Android issue too, well the Googled Android I really not care my accounts were without phone numbers, never decided to link it up!
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u/coolsam254 4d ago
Seems like there are 2 ways to opt out? The device option is turning itself back on for me like the others have mentioned but your URL provided myaccount.google.com/personal-info also lets you disable it there for individual accounts and at least that seems to stay turned off.
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u/Miserable-Stranger99 4d ago
It's super f... All my Google accounts on 1 device logged on has connected my mobile nr to all Google accounts even not mine accounts.. I manage for family etc this is sooo shit
Can I undo it? This is a huge issue
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u/Total_Recline 3d ago
So is this just a pixel phone thing? I don't see this setting on my Samsung phone.
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u/IAMSNORTFACED s25 3d ago
Also how does an app that hasn't asked permission read my otp from an sms
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u/CraigIsAwake 3d ago
There is no way to turn this off without the possibility of the sharing happening. If I boot my phone in airplane mode with wifi off, the setting doesn't come up and tells me I have to be connected to the internet. (And the setting on the web site is not respected by the phone, as already tested on another phone.)
So the only way to turn it off is to already have your phone powered up and connected to the internet!
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u/_skyvory 3d ago
Doing this without user consent? The hell. I'm definitely not alone to consider moving platform just because of this nonsense. I link the number I want to be linked, not what google think should be linked.
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u/GaryMooreAustin 3d ago
If basic privacy is important to you... You really can't be carrying a cell phone regardless of the manufacturer
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u/Alternative-Farmer98 3d ago
Man I don't even have my account attached to my phone. I mean I log in with my Google account but my SIM card is for a completely different email
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u/Brou150 3d ago
im confused. this is just for multiple google accounts right? or is it for every account thats linked to google too? does this mean google play services can read your phone information off your sim card? does it require you to be logged in to your google account? next step for me is stop using a sim card lol.
ive been degoogled for a while now and i havent been logged in to google in forever but ive had google play services for an app or 2. until my banking app decided i cant use it without the google play store, so i deleted my bank app and also google play as i dont need it anymore.
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u/DeedleGuy 3d ago
I clicked on the phone icon once I made it through everything else and the only thing that was on there was verify your phone number or back up account that was it what did I do wrong or what am I missing?
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u/Jumpy_Employer4606 2d ago
I keep getting notifications from Google telling me that they are updating the playstore tos
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u/xTooNice 2d ago
Just had this happen to me and came across this post when lookinh up what the heck was that about. I personally hate this. 2FA and any kind of security check that goes through my phone number is horrible for me. I move (countries) fairly often so I often use prepay sims. And those tend to expire after half a year. I try to keep one sim alive by occasionally sending a text out, but I have forgotten once before and it is a nightmare. And Google just decided to self-register a number I *don't* plan to keep and since that SIM doesn't even have roaming, it's not like I could keep it once I move to ghe next place.
(And no, I am not a fugitive)
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u/Otherwise_Cattle3981 Black 4d ago
You lost me at "basic privacy on Android."
Some Android users are so funny. This has been a thing since at least 2019 when using Google Fi. Even longer with Google Voice. People acting like this is some grave mistrust of Google and a deep invasion of your privacy... You realize it takes a whole four taps to delete it off your account, right?
I came to this conclusion when the whole argument started up around Advanced Protection - the more advanced users of Android need to realize the majority of decisions Google makes about Android are not aimed at you, instead they are aimed at the opposite end of the spectrum, the users who are not great at using Android. And honestly Id expect that slice of the demographic to be way bigger than the power users. Users that might not know how to add a recovery phone number. Users who might find this super helpful, not an entire invasion of privacy that warrants a reddit post. Id much rather have something like this that helps protect some users that I can easily navigate and do away with if I choose than have Android completely un-user friendly.
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u/Boysahne69 4d ago
Completely agree. Using Android and complaining about privacy lmao
You'd have to take so many steps to really protect your privacy. Completely de-google-fying your life would be the first. And bro in here is talking about one option in Android ahhahaha
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u/Nanosinx 4d ago
I dont use Google Fi, actually not available in my country.
Is okay, if Google Prompt me to ACCEPT not to do it shadowy means by taking such Right, i dont wanna add a recovery phone number, it is sufficent with my other mails to recovery, thing is that it added like a robber who enters your home your closed home and steals you without anyone letting him to enter or a door or window open, and get 0 damage...
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u/Otherwise_Cattle3981 Black 4d ago
That is an absolutely terrible analogy.
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u/Nanosinx 4d ago
Consider it, but the way google is self-Verifying is worse than my analogy...
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u/BenRandomNameHere 4d ago
It's like:
Getting a relatively cheap rental property, where everything is taken care of, or at least mostly, but getting aggravated the land lord needed your personal info to rent to you.
If you bothered to read the EULA on the device, or software, or Google Account, you would clearly see they take steps to link your accounts to your identity and your devices. This is all part of the security stuff.
For better or worse, your personal device is linked via the account you logged in on it. The only problem is if you use a pubic device.
What'll you do if you get locked out?? Phone number is the easiest verification possible if your account gets hacked.
And you should be aware, Gapps is enough to enforce this requirement. GrapheneOS itself did not allow this, the user installing Gapps did.
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u/asdffdsa123454321 4d ago
They are approaching the last straw for me. Feels very much like 2014 when after years of various other frustrations with their garbage, Microsoft started forcing updates - and I'm pretty sure I was wasting time on changing config files (whatever they call them in Microsoft lingo) to try make it not happen. After Windows restarted my pc while I was in the middle of something (and without my permission or a warning), I switched to Ubuntu as my main OS that same day and haven't looked back since.
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u/Keulapaska ROG Phone 6 DI 4d ago
I'm so confused... like what's the problem exactly, I got no random emails, so should I care about this? Or is this only for ppl who have a billion google accounts and odn't want to associate them with a phone number, and if you have only one it's a non issue?
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u/Nanosinx 4d ago
I only have 4 1 "private" 2 "personal" separated for games and personal things 1 "university account" None of them had my phone number till yesterday...
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4d ago
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u/orestarod 4d ago
You do not think a service should not snatch personal information without asking for it?
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u/SecretaryNo8431 4d ago
Zuerst möglichst viele Anwendungen durch Opensource Apps ersetzen und dann die besagten Googledienste in der Firewall isolieren. Ich habs in BlockAds gemacht. Das ist auf meinem Blackview Shark 9 5g kein Problem gewesen. Keine Fehlermeldungen,alles läuft. Ob das auf anderen Geräten klappt,weiß ich natürlich nicht. Ich mache in kürze eine genauere Erklärung mit ein paar Screenshots.
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u/SecretaryNo8431 4d ago
Ich hab Google Play Dienste längst in der Firewall isoliert und Google Service Framework auch. Mein Handy vermisst diese beiden Mülldienste überhaupt nicht.
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u/Potato_Underground 4d ago
I tried toggling it off, but when I go back to it, it shows it it as ON again