Smartphone - EN

SMARTPHONE - Do you want to be a user or a product?

Welcome to the world of "your" smartphone!

Imagine I have your smartphone. I don't need to take it from your hand; it doesn't even need to be turned on; I just need to know your number. And suddenly, I have access to everything. Everything you hide from the world—your most intimate messages, places you've been, what you've eaten, who you've talked to, and even what made you laugh or cry.

Do you know how it works? It doesn't matter if you have Android, iOS, or some exotic alternative. Your smartphone is the king of spies. Clever and elegant—like a little God in your pocket. But I don't need the AI from "Don't Look Up!" to tell you when and how you'll die. I just need your smartphone and a few clicks in the right places.

Your photos? Sure, I have all of them, even those you've deleted. Those with metadata that reveal where and when you took them, and if you want, I can even remind you what you ordered for dinner that night. Your messages? Whether it was a romantic SMS, a voice message on WhatsApp, or an email full of secret plans—I have it all.

And what's more? I can listen to your heartbeat when you hold your phone or measure how nervous you are by how tightly you grip it. Your steps, sleep, even your dreams if you have a smart band. I can tell if you've had a bad day just by how you move and talk.

I can decide for you what you'll buy, who you'll vote for, and who you'll hate. Just serve you the right ads at the right time. Emotional manipulation? Piece of cake. You know those moments when you feel the worst? I know them better than you do. And that's exactly when I'll show you an ad you simply have to open.

So, do you still think you have your smartphone under control? Or are you asking if your smartphone controls you?

Welcome to the Matrix. Now it's up to you if you want to be a user or a product. 

The truth about your smartphone: What data can it collect and export?

Geolocation:

Your exact real-time location.

History of places you've been.

Overview of your favorite locations (work, home, favorite spots).

Contacts:

Names, phone numbers, emails, and even notes on contacts.

Who you call or text the most.

Messages and Calls:

SMS, MMS, emails, and chat content on platforms like WhatsApp, Messenger, or Signal.

Call history: to whom, when, and how long you called.

Photos and Videos:

All files stored on your device.

Photo metadata, including time, place, and device used.

App Access:

Which apps you use, how often, and how long.

Data from apps: bank accounts, health data, shopping history.

Phone Sensors:

Accelerometer (records movement).

Microphone (potential eavesdropping).

Camera (possible access without user awareness).

Gyroscope (can determine your position without GPS).

Wi-Fi networks you're connected to or have connected to.

Other devices paired via Bluetooth.

Visited sites, searches, clicked links.

Ads you responded to.

Heart rate, steps, sleep, and other data measured by smart watches or bands.

Details of payments through mobile apps.

Stored payment card information.

Every app you install has the potential to collect this data—provided, of course, you grant it permission.

Fingerprint scanners store biometric data unique to each user.

If this data leaks, it is irreplaceable—you can't change your fingerprint.

Unlocking the device, authorizing payments, accessing sensitive apps.

Measure slight pressure changes, allowing the phone to detect even gentle touches or pressure.

These sensors can recognize your heart and breathing rates when you hold the device firmly or touch it.

Some phones and connected devices (smart watches/bands) can track your heartbeat.

Modern smartphones can monitor blood oxygen saturation thanks to infrared sensors.

Sensors can analyze your activity, sleep movement, and heart rate variability.

High-resolution cameras can track even minor changes on your face, including micro-expressions.

Emotional state, fatigue, health issues (e.g., skin color changes).

These peripherals collect data about your movement, sleep cycles, ECG, and even body temperature.

Can track eye movement and directions you're looking at, which is incredibly accurate for analyzing attention and emotions.

Smartphones are no longer just "communication tools." They are complete physiological monitors collecting data about our body and behavior 24/7.

Companies analyze your search history, purchases, location, and the time you're most online to serve you ads that are hard to resist.

Based on monitoring your mood (micro-expressions, voice tone), they can show you ads that hit you in "emotionally weak moments."

Your personal data, shopping behavior, and preferences are traded as commodities—the more precise the information, the higher the price.

The biggest threat is that this information may end up with the wrong entities, including political campaigns that manipulate you without your knowledge.

By tracking you, they "pigeonhole" you—your social status, financial reliability, political preferences, health condition... All of this can be used against you, for example, when applying for a loan or insurance.

Even if you turn off GPS, location data can still be estimated from Wi-Fi networks or mobile tower signals. Not to mention apps that gain access to the microphone or camera.

When installing apps, always read what they want access to. A calendar app doesn't need your microphone or camera.

Block personalized ads and regularly delete data and browsing history.

Use VPNs, encrypted messengers, and privacy settings directly in the operating system.

Be vocal—demand transparency and accountability from companies on how they handle your data.

A smartphone is a powerful tool, but also a weapon if not controlled. The question is simple:

Do you want to be a user or a product? 

PS: If anyone feels that what I said at the beginning of this article can influence anything, let me assure you that you can't influence absolutely anything.  All it takes is applying one's own rules to the web, which anyone can create because there are no effective regulations for the web in terms of pre-established rules. The web is now essentially a "jungle," where the "smarter" wins. The only truly effective thing that still works great and safely on both smartphones and the web is an ordinary hammer, remember that! ✌🏼

Tricky question at the end! Why can't you remove the batteries from modern phones and tablets? 

Now close this article, go pet your darling and keep comforting yourself that your phone is your friend. But if it pierced your heart, maybe it's time to find out who really is the master in this relationship.