Google is silently linking your phone number across all signed-in accounts

A recent report by Android Authority claims that Google is automatically associating phone numbers with all signed-in accounts on a device, not just the one initially used for phone number verification. This alleged "silent" linking has sparked significant concern among privacy-conscious users, who view it as another aggressive move by Google to consolidate personal data and undermine efforts to maintain separate digital identities.

• The article title suggests a "silent" process, but some users reported receiving email notifications from Google about the change, indicating some level of communication from Google, albeit after the fact or without clear opt-out options upfront.
• The automatic linking complicates attempts to compartmentalize Google accounts, such as having distinct profiles for work, personal use, or anonymous browsing.
• Many commenters interpret this as a deliberate strategy by Google to maximize data collection, further deanonymize users, and make it more difficult to create or maintain accounts without revealing a direct link to one's real-world identity.
• This practice feeds into a broader frustration with big tech companies that increasingly demand phone numbers for verification, turning them into a de facto "social security number of the internet" and making anonymous online presence nearly impossible.
• Some users advocate for privacy-focused alternatives and the use of dedicated devices or operating systems (like GrapheneOS) to mitigate Google's data collection, while others note the increasing difficulty of avoiding such practices across the digital landscape.

In essence, this incident serves as a potent symbol of the ongoing tension between user privacy expectations and the data-driven business models of tech giants, reinforcing a prevailing sense of resignation among some users and galvanizing others to seek greater digital autonomy.