> It's essentially almost impossible to create a Google account without giving up your identity, and your phone number often leads directly to your real-life identity.

A process I've gone through a few times (though I didn't actually want a Google Account):

1) Get a new (second-hand sometimes) ChromeOS or Android device.

2) (if necessary) do a power-wash or factory-reset.

3) Do the "set up a new device" process.

4) When it asks you for a Google account, click on the "I don't have one. create a new account" button.

In all these cases, the device didn't (or couldn't, in the case of the Chromebook) have a SIMcard in it, so it couldn't link it to a phone number.

One smartphone that I bought for $20, and never (IIRC) had a SIMCard in, I think the only identity-oriented app I have on it is Netflix. I've wondered if Google links the smartphone's google account to the Netflix account (which is actually not me, but a cousin's), and whether Netflix is complicit in this linking.

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BizarroLand 6 hours ago | parent [-]

I imagine that Google is keeping a log of the ip addresses that phone reports when it's connected to wifi. I There's probably some overlay between you and your known associates / locations.

	▲	Terr_ 3 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		They also log all the locations where anybody's phone encountered an SSID. It's unclear whether an SSID suffixed with _nomap truly opts out of the collection, or whether it simply opts out of later sharing.
	▲	xnickb 5 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Even if they don't, the law enforcement definitely does (or rather requires your ISP to). So depending on who you are trying to protect against you are in for varying amounts of fun.