But it’s a requirement to have a phone if you want to normally* participate in society (getting a job, going to university, communicating with your doctor or child’s school, etc.). Getting one without exploitation (or with less, I’m not sure if Fairphone or others can certify every aspect of their phone) can be way, way out of people’s budget, but I can get a used iPhone for $120.

If someone’s in the position of either being unable to participate in society or having to make an exploitative purchase, they’re by definition in a vulnerable financial position. Do you really want to take more political power away from them by dismissing any criticism of the companies that rule their lives they might express?

To transpose the metaphor a bit, Americans have a government that has interfered in the democratic processes of a fuckload of other countries. Should they not condemn the J6ers for fear of being hypocritical? Europe still benefits from colonialism, should Europeans not criticize Israel to stay consistent?

• if you’re skilled enough in specific fields, you can probably make people switch to your preferred communication method, but that’s not an option for the vast majority of people. And frankly, I’d be surprised if many of the people who do have that option are significantly impacted by the price of less exploitative phones.

Ah