You Don’t Own Your Phone - They Do. // Hakeem Anwar x Above Phone

Sat, May 2, 2026, 12:00 AM

In this Academy interview, Hakeem Anwar (Above Phone) discusses making privacy accessible through ready-to-use devices and tools built on open-source technologies like GrapheneOS. He frames privacy as essential for freedom, especially in a world of increasing data collection and emerging systems like digital ID. Anwar emphasizes practical steps from choosing privacy-first tools to building real-world communities and highlights the importance of supporting open-source ecosystems. He also shares a vision of decentralized, self-sustained networks where communities control their own infrastructure and communication. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction: Hakeem Anwar & Above Phone 00:25 – Making privacy tools easy and accessible (GrapheneOS phones) 01:51 – Privacy as freedom in a data-driven world 02:54 – Cypherpunk mindset: drawing the line against surveillance 03:56 – Supporting open-source and privacy ecosystems 04:03 – Building real-world communities and offline networks 04:49 – Favorite tools: XMPP, GrapheneOS, privacy stack 05:49 – Simple habits: saying “no” and setting boundaries 06:15 – Vision: decentralized communities and alternative networks -- This conversation is part of Privacy Academy Interviews, a peer-to-peer knowledge project exploring the most important ideas in Web3, privacy, and digital freedom. Learn more: https://academy.web3privacy.info A W3PN Media House production. Directed by Federico Marchi https://x.com/BabyBitProd Interview by Peter Farbey https://x.com/0xfarbey Let privacy be with you!