linuxmemes

LineageOS doesn't include any Google apps or services by default, nor does it include MicroG. (It does give an optional step to flash a GApps package in the official install guides, but this can be skipped no problem)

On this point, I didn't suggest otherwise, and I don't disagree.

LineageOS does use proprietary Google BLOBs for AGPS services and wifi captive portal detection, both of which are anonymised by the nature of the protocols used. But more importantly, /e/ OS also uses these too, so /e/ shouldn't be ranked any higher than LineageOS is

Looking into this here and here, I see that you are correct that /e/OS still has not fully degoogled:

A-GPS and SUPL servers

⚙️ Under investigation with the /e/OS development team.

How /e/OS deGoogle’s Android

• Clean up of the source code by removing most Google server calls
• Connectivity checks traditionally done against Google servers, replaced with our servers
• Replace Google NTP servers for network time protocol
• Removed default Google DNS and offers more choices for DNS settings
• Replaced all default Google Apps by privacy-safe and feature-equivalent apps
• Adds an anonymity layer to Google services that are difficult to live without such as push notifications and access to Play Store applications

So you are correct that I should drop /e/OS down to the Dubious row for advertising itself as degoogled and yet not being fully degoogled. Idk how GrapheneOS can manage their own servers for properly degoogling while /e/OS fails to do so.

Technically, disabling gps would effectively finalize the degoogling of /e/OS, as it currently exists. The questionable/suspicious aspect of this is that there isn't any documentation for how to finish the degoogling process that is accessibly presented to the user. I do find it annoying enough that clueless users won't know to disable MicroG in order to continue degoogling the phone, which is advertised as being already degoogled. Having to disable a useful feature like gps in order to finish the degoogling process is weird and bad and wrong to not inform the user in such a way that non-tech users understand.

I still find LineageOS to be borderline malware for having captive portal connectivity checks which /e/OS has properly degoogled. Unless something has changed in the last few years, Waydroid (containerized LineageOS) attempts to make connections to google upon starting up, which does not seem to be the case for /e/OS.

From another one of my comments in this thread:

I had tried Waydroid on my linux phone, and the OpenSnitch firewall running in the host linux system flagged multiple google connections that Waydroid was attempting to make upon starting. Basic connectivity stuff, but googled nonetheless. I hadn't seen any disclaimers on their site about it, but I also hadn't seen anything about LineageOS advertising itself as degoogled in the first place. I view degoogled android as generally acceptable (though it's not for me), but googled android is unacceptable (in my view). So I placed Waydroid in the Dubious row to represent my unwillingness to recommend it.

And if I remember correctly, those connections were attempted every time I started Waydroid, not just the first time.

Well anyway, thanks for the info. Between this and the need to add CalyxOS into the list, I'll need a lot more time to move things around.

❤️