Phreeli: A New Standard for Privacy in Telecommunications
- defenddigital
- Dec 12, 2025
- 2 min read
I recently came across a post shared by Andy Greenberg from Wired Magazine about Phreeli, a new kind of cell phone company that’s flipping the script on data collection. Unlike most providers today, whose mission seems to be gathering as much information about you as possible, Phreeli is taking a radically different approach.
At the core of their service, they collect only the bare minimum required by U.S. law — essentially just your postal code. For payments, they use a double-blind system, ensuring your account is up to date without ever needing to know who you are. Considering that most apps today demand access to GPS and personal data — often for no good reason — this approach is refreshing and increasingly rare.
Even their privacy policy is a breeze to read. Written in plain English, it makes their commitment to privacy clear right from the start. Within the first few sentences, they explicitly enact “Privacy By Design.” Key highlights include:
Data Minimization – Only the information necessary to provide the services and comply with applicable laws is collected and stored.
Advanced Privacy Controls – Subscribers have options to control exactly what data is shared with Phreeli.
Open-Source Encryption – All data is protected using the latest open-source encryption where possible.
Double-Blind Armadillo Architecture – Account information is completely separate from telecommunications activity. Your username, zip code, and payment info are never linked to your calls, texts, or data usage.
Minimum Disclosure – Data is disclosed only when legally necessary or to protect the Phreeli ecosystem. Your data is never sold.
They also have a strong data retention policy: Personal information is immediately deleted once its essential purpose has been fulfilled.
Phreeli shows that it’s possible to offer a functional, modern telecommunications service without exploiting user data. In a world where most people “don’t care” or aren’t aware of the risks of data mining, companies like Phreeli are a breath of fresh air.
If privacy matters to you, Phreeli is worth checking out — their website has more details and transparency than most providers I’ve seen.
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