Security / privacy heads up: It looks like Google is now publicly linking the phone number on Google Pixel phones (or at least Pixel 6 and up) to any Gmail/Google account you've logged into that phone with.
"Phone number verification is turned on by default. We verify the phone number and add them to all Google Accounts that are signed in on the device. This applies to both current and future accounts and phone numbers. "
I.e., if you write erotica, have an Only Fans, do sex work, etc., and you have logged into your alt email addresses on your phone, Google will now make your personal phone number "findable" for anyone who has that email address.
This will potentially adversely affect a lot of (vulnerable and/or marginalized) people.
Everyone has been opted into this by default (because who has heard of consent or security in tech circles grrr).
To opt out:
1. On your phone, go to Settings, then next to your account name at the very top, go to "Google Services and Preferences".
2. Under “Privacy & security,” select Phone number verification.
3. Select whether to verify your phone number.
If you don't want your different identities linked and findable, make this change asap.
I hope that tech and especially infosec people and privacy advocates raise hell about this. (No one listens to the rest of us.)
*I don't work in tech, but I haven't seen tech people talk about this yet (from my limited Fedi vantage point).
Stay safe and keep your people safe.
Read more in the Google support pages.
https://support.google.com/android/answer/7521240
You're welcome to boost or share this post, but if you see tech professionasl discuss it, I'd much rather you quote them, and if you discuss this outside of Fedi, please do *not* give me credit. I don't need reply guys coming at me, I just want to flag people on what might be a problem. Thanks for your understanding.
