Richard Stallman proudly says in many speeches that he does not own a mobile phone and never had one. How is that even possible? I live in France. And in order to live there you need:
a bank account
social security online account
housing support account
student national ID account
other health-related accounts like doctissimo)
All of which REQUIRE a mobile phone number + sometimes an app (for banking). For example, my GOS phone won’t run the app of my bank and to make a transfer I am forced to receive a one time code via SMS message, which requires a working mobile phone number. I honestly do not understand how you can manage to live your life without a mobile phone in France. And I suspect that US citizens have the same issue. And do not even let me start on job hunting without a mobile phone number, it is terrible.
I’ve been trying to get rid of my phone but to be honest it seems impossible now that even the most important services like banks and health services require a mobile phone.
Is there anyone here on this forum who has managed to get by without a mobile phone? If so, how did you do it? Really, how? And borrowing the phone of your partner does not count .
Unrelated but there really should be a community wiki guide or blog on living disconnected or at least limiting mobile phone, desktop, and internet use.
Did you forget about landline phones? I know they are obsolete nowadays but they have existed way before Stallman was even alive.
I don’t see why he can’t list his home number for any required documents. Email, OTP, and passkeys can be used for other phone number related usage cases.
Besides that, literally everything a phone does can be replicated by other tools in the past.
Yes even today it might not be a bad idea to keep a landline phone if you can afford it as a backup phone in case you lose power or you lose your mobile phone.
Email, OTP, and passkeys can be used for other phone number related usage cases.
Afaik KeePassXC supports desktop 2FA and there are others. It’s nice to know a phone isn’t required for 2FA even though desktop 2FA is less sandboxed.
Besides that, literally everything a phone does can be replicated by other tools in the past.
Like buying a digital camera, an atlas or road map, a watch (not an apple watch), and other physical things.
I vaguely remember receiving an automated phone call being an option for most banks. Otherwise, a lot of these issues can be rectified by calling the bank or harassing them in person
tfw my bank always does this, if I don;t have the mobile app I would be forced to use SMS OTP anyways so yeah
and besides if the phone at home only or mobile can receive them anyways, don’t see the complaint here.
(Unless im mistaken and richard stallman in fact even has no phone number, but phone numbers and sms have existed for decades now [yes ik it’s insecure not the f****** point people].)
I definitely think it is much easier for people who grew up and established their adult lives prior to ubiquitous computing to maintain that life, versus attempting to do it now. Is Stallman applying for a bunch of jobs? No lol
For the last few years, I’ve rarely taken my phone with me anywhere I went. I don’t have a sim card and airplane mode is always enabled, so not concerned about being tracked. I just don’t need it. I know where I’m going and how to get there (check directions prior to departure). If I’m out doing something, I’m engaged in the activity and I wouldn’t be looking at my phone.
Yes and it’d be much easier if there wasn’t a need for mobile phones for so many things and more people attempted to live without ubiquitous computing. We seriously need a guide on that (and perhaps a linklist to other similar guides and references).
As @jonah suggested it may be easier for people who have “established themselves” in society to continue living without a phone than for younger people and immigrants. If Stallman migrated to another country, he may run into a lot of trouble.
What would happen if someone, a new immigrant or a teenager, in France or elsewhere, attempts to open a new bank account without a phone number? Would the bank turn them away?
If that happens then you’ll have a problem you can’t solve simply by making a call. Carrying a phone is not a necessity however. People have lived without carrying phones for millennia and apparently did just fine. They planned things in advance, reduced the risks of things going wrong, made plan B’s, etc. Pressure, coercion and conformity notwithstanding, few people really need to carry one, except say for specific personal safety reasons or for people with an “on call” job.
Live like an old man. Find a bank with a traditional bank book and give only a landline number.
We still have local banks that offer a disconnected banking experience (meaning you have to go to the bank during their office hours to withdraw/deposit money). We also have a bank that offers ATM only but its a bit riskier because it is a debit card. You can do online banking transactions with that same bank but it requires an app on your phone which is a big no no.
They require a mobile phone number, or they require a phone number which can receive sms? A smartphone (or dumbphone) is not the only way to receive SMS.
And do not even let me start on job hunting without a mobile phone number, it is terrible.
I have a mobile (number), its never been on my resume. I do give out a number, but it is not my mobile number and doesn’t depend on any particular physical device.
and to make a transfer I am forced to receive a one time code via SMS message
or you go into the bank.
What would happen if someone, a new immigrant or a teenager, in France or elsewhere, attempts to open a new bank account without a phone number? Would the bank turn them away?
OP’s question isn’t about living without a phone number it is about living “without a mobile phone”
With all that said, I think the actual answer to the real question, is Richard Stallman has shown he is extremely willing to endure hardships and annoyances and deprivations that he probably wouldn’t otherwise choose in order to live in a way that is inline with his values and put his money where his mouth is in a way that most of us are just not prepared to do.
Despite not wanting the lifestyle he has for myself, and often not liking his black/white thinking and framing of issues or dogmaticism, I have long admired his commitment to living in a way that seems consistent with his values.
I can’t answer for myself, but my question for you is, does the threat model you are working with require you to ditch your mobile phone? It’s a very hard tradeoff, and there may be ways to combat this with “good enough” solutions depending on what it is you are after.
Given you’ve referenced Stallman, I caution against following the church of FSF/GNU to a tea. I actively support the FSF, but using only FOSS software as a hill to die on is quite difficult to do without giving up a lot, and not always for meaningful gains in privacy (and possibly setbacks in security).
I even took a trip abroad without my phone. I had to use the computer in the business center at my hotel to look up things to do and to get directions. I still got lost a few times and had to ask people for directions. Everyone I encountered was incredibly helpful and I even engaged in some conversation with a few people.
Here in Germany most of these things can be done without a phone. Maybe not online then but most elderly people do things in person.
Honestly online banking is quite unnecessary if you live near to your bank, I can do almost everything online banking can do on their ATM which is accessible 24/7.
And some organizations like Digital Curage here frequently sue companies/government agencies for “app zwang” (app requirements) because it is considered discrimination.
(Then again, in German even if you file for student loans online they will print your application out and work on it in paper.)
.