(from France)

My phone is not rooted. I barely used it, like barely at all (I only have the required apps I need to access to, not a single app more), so I don’t need to tweak it in any way.

I show my ID when I’m required to.

Sorry I cannot help you more than that.

(from United States)

• microG helps with apps that check for the mere presence of Google Play, but does nothing for Play Integrity. microG gets most apps up and running, but the details will vary, some apps won’t have working notifications, and most official Google suite apps will still be broken.
• I personally don’t want to play a game of freedom/privacy alongside closed-source and personally-identifying apps on the same phone, so my solution to apps requiring Play Integrity would be an entirely separate phone. I hang on to my old phones, so I reuse the most recent one for work and other nasty apps.
• However, there are workarounds for Play Integrity, many of them through the Magisk rooting tool. I’m not aware of any way to work around it without rooting. I haven’t rooted my phone since the Android 4.4 days, so I don’t have much good advice.
• I am required to show ID maybe less than once a month, likewise for large transactions, official paperwork, etc. My passport card reveals less information than my state’s driver’s license (the de-facto ID for most US Americans), so I present that first.
• Some jurisdictions have digital ID options, but it’s all optional as far as I’m aware. Let’s say that I wouldn’t be too thrilled if they decide to make eID mandatory.

(from USA)

Last time I used a clinic (stitches, not an overnight stay), they wanted to know who I am. But I did not have to show ID. It makes sense, they need to know who I am. They keep track of medications and things. It’s been also true for routine vaccinations. They ask my name and age when I check in. And they want insurance info ofc. But never asked for an ID.

I have to show an ID to buy alcohol. But they do not copy or record it so I do not mind. The clerk simply looks at it to verify my age. Takes like 3 seconds. No copy is made. I’m cool with it.

I have to show ID to open a bank account. Two forms! And they do record it! That did not used to be true here. But now it is, KYC laws.

I have never used any form of face ID. Well not on purpose! Some stores may use FR outside my control. I’ve never used FR with a phone, I mean.

(From South America)

About phones, same advice as monovergent, i use a separate phone for things that require google and another one for work. It’s not ideal since they probably can correlate them, but it’s the best compromise i found.

About ID, you are required to show it for most of the things you ask, which I think is reasonable. We don’t have face id thankfully yet

How do you handle apps that refuse to run on rooted/jailbroken phones or on devices without Google Play Services? Can microG, Xposed, or other tools help in practice? (F*ck Play Integrity and “Google Play license check”). Can I bypass those restrictions without rooting?

The best thing you can do is leave feedback so that the developers fix it themselves. Rooting is not advised for security reasons.

Have you ever rooted your phone? Any practical advice for someone considering it? I don’t have a phone I know is compatible with alternative ROMs (e.g., LineageOS), so I’m leaning toward rooting and would appreciate recommendations or warnings.

No. I was fortunate enough to be able to flash GrapheneOS on a Google Pixel. You should know that you can debloat stock using something like Universal Android Debloater Next Generation. That provides more privacy without compromise to much of the security. Rooting gives you full control but is a major security regression because you have full control.

How often do you need to show ID where you live (hospitals, government offices, large transactions, etc.)? For example, in my country I always have to show ID (or use face ID) at places like hospitals or when making large transactions.

I’ve opted out of most institutions in the United States, but the most frequent times I show my ID are for employment, cashing paychecks, and any government-related things (e.g. obtaining a driver’s license, opening a post office box, etc.)

How is eID implemented in your country? Does your government require or strongly encourage using eID apps? Are they widely adopted? (I know the EU’s planned age‑verification app is a form of eID—or not really. Real examples are Germany’s AusweisApp and Vietnam’s VNeID. Anyway, that age‑verification law should not exist).

eID hasn’t been widely adopted here, at least not yet.

Portable phone: GOS

Desk phone (wifi only): opionated apps that won’t run on GoS… so basically banking

Rooting a phone: it changes your security model, so it’s really about the risk reward payoff. Your risk surface area expands greatly.

In general look at something like qubes, even if you won’t run it, it’s a good thought experiment to see how you would segment things into indivisible risk domains and workflows