Depends on the device. Some allow the bootloader to be unlocked officially. Root is usually needed when you unlock the bootloader unofficially, using some hack.

Also, /e/os supports an official gsi, which can be installed without root.

That said, these phones aren't suited for people that need absolute security and privacy. They're more experimental and aimed at enthusiasts of the project who want to support it.

I can see why eos raises some concerns, but i find it to be an interesting alternative with moderate potential. We definitely need more alternatives to standard android.

Ah, I see. But in that case, won't the server have access to my messages in plain text?

We are trying, but the bootloader seems to be unlockabe, and that's pushing us back.

But what do you do when services and institutions in general require you to use whatsapp? That's what is mostly keeping me from deleting that app.

Bring back the smaller phones!

That's amazing.

Here in Brazil, we had the government encouraging free software in the 2000s, but the projects and policies were all abandoned.

And to think we could have a similar adoption to yours today... sigh...

Back then, people didn't understand how such projects give benefits in a long timeframe, and wanted immediate results,, something impossible.

I feel the same. I can't recommend it to anyone anymore.

But a lot of things changed in these years. Installing software, for example, became so easy using the gnome store, that it lowered a lot the entry barrier.

The few times I find myself using windows, I realize it's not easy to use, as many claim. I believe it's mostly a matter of a computer culture that created around it, and changing cultural traits is really hard

Mine stopped sending emails all of a sudden this week. Are you able to send emails using k9 with a gmail account?

No, but they accepted to publish political fake news ads for one of the running parties (the fascistoid one, of course) in the last elections here in Brazil.

That party has lost, but it was too close. In the 4 last years, during their mandate, hunger, violence, discrimination rape, and other problems rose to the highest levels in the century.

Google and other big tech companies have been influencing elections in a lot of places, and the consequences are enormous.

Everything adds a little. Another thing happening are the newer Windows versions requiring stupidly high minimum requirements, pushing people with older machines into alternatives.

I know you're asking about linux, but just pointing out that you can try android x86 on it, just in case you don't know about the project.