New Fairphone (Gen.6+) with Murena's /e/OS now available on Murena.com

💚 Everything you love about the Fairphone. Plus more.

The Fairphone (Gen. 6+) with Murena's /e/OS stands for more power, performance, style, and – thanks to /e/OS: privacy.

🔸Next level speed with the Snapdragon Gen 4

🔸Seamless multitasking with 12 GB RAM

🔸Vibrant new color option

Still sustainable. Still repairable. Easily replace 12 components with a simple screwdriver.

📲 Buy the Fairphone (Gen.6+) and receive multiple gifts!

EU offer: Choose 2 between a new case, screen protector, finger loop, card holder or lanyard.

US offer: You’ll receive a brand new case and screen protector. Purchases in the US are now on backorder and will be shipped within 10 working days.

Both regions: Boost your productivity with a Murena Workspace plan of 1TB and Murena MDM (Mobile Device Management) for 1 year.

👉 Discover the new Fairphone (Gen.6+) with /e/OS and its accessories: https://murena.com/products/smartphones/

US: https://murena.com/america/products/smartphones/

Does NewPipe still work on smartphones running Murena's /e/OS in 2026?

Some owners of Murena smartphones running /e/OS use the NewPipe app to watch YouTube videos without Google Play Services. Recently, a warning notification caused confusion in the community. Many wondered whether NewPipe is still compatible with /e/OS after Google's announcement about Android developer verification in September 2026. In this article, we clarify the situation.

Short answer: Yes - NewPipe continues to work on /e/OS without any issues.

What’s NewPipe and why should I avoid watching YouTube with a Google account?

Giving people without advanced technical knowledge the opportunity to protect their privacy - without having to completely change their habits - is part of Murena's mission. Many open source developers share this goal, including the team behind NewPipe, an app often used on Murena smartphones running /e/OS.

Users choose NewPipe to watch YouTube videos without a Google account.

Maybe you enjoy watching YouTube for its wide range of videos - from tutorials to music. But after learning more about Big Tech companies, you might wonder: What's really happening to your data as soon as Google gets involved?

That's a valid question - especially since YouTube is owned by Google and known for its detailed tracking of user behavior and aggressive algorithms.

YouTube’s algorithms amplify harmful content

Researchers from Switzerland and Brazil have discovered in a joint study called Auditing Radicalization Pathways on YouTube that YouTube's algorithms amplify radical ideas. As this research is very long and extensive, but very enriching, we will continue to share some of its main insights in different communications about tracking and its possible harmful results.

YouTube’s tracking algorithms are likely to increase security risks

When connecting to your YouTube account, your data is shared with numerous third parties. According to Verizon's 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report, 30% of breaches involved a third-party vendor, twice as much as the year before. The more entities holding your data, the higher the risk of a leak.

YouTube algorithms increase bias and discrimination

Big Tech companies don't just analyze your data; they build detailed user profiles that can perpetuate bias. On social media, algorithms don't just show us ads and posts that match our profile - they also filter out certain posts. For example, we don't all see the same job listings, which means that discrimination in the workplace is perpetuated and reinforced online as well.

YouTube algorithms create filter bubbles who are likely to have a mental health impact

Tracking-based algorithms show you content that aligns with your existing beliefs, limiting exposure to diverse perspectives. Pew Research Center's 2025 survey found that 25% of teen girls and 14% of teen boys report that social media harms their mental health.

YouTube algorithms promote misinformation and manipulation

Without algorithmic filtering, you're less vulnerable to targeted disinformation campaigns. Personalized tracking can amplify divisive content and exploit psychological vulnerabilities for engagement maximization. Remember – an algorithm does not - and cannot - care about how you feel, it’s only goal is to keep you engaged on its platform.

YouTube algorithms include an intrusive advertising ecosystem

Tracking fuels an attention economy where ads are designed to be maximally invasive. This includes behavioral retargeting across platforms, covert surveillance via SDKs (Software Development Kits), and manipulative design patterns that undermine user autonomy.

Conclusion: Skipping Google comes with clear advantages, though one limitation is worth noting: Content creators don't earn ad revenue from NewPipe views. However, many creators offer alternative support options - such as Patreon, membership programs, or direct donation links - which conscious users can utilize to contribute fairly.

What alternatives to YouTube?

What open source alternatives or other more ethical options to YouTube exist?

Maybe you’re already discovered Peertube, an open-source streaming platform with around 1,200 federated instances worldwide and a growing user base in the low millions. Many members of our community use it, and YouTube videos can be imported with just a few clicks.

However, to have the same wide selection as on YouTube, you could also consider using the NewPipe app, which lets you watch videos without being bothered by YouTube's aggressive algorithms.

NewPipe plays YouTube videos without requiring Google Play Services or a Google account. Instead of using the official YouTube API, NewPipe “parses” the public YouTube website and downloads video metadata via anonymous HTTP requests.

In short – NewPipe accesses YouTube videos by reading the public website directly, so you don't need a Google account or Google Play Services.

Want to know more about the advantages and disadvantages of NewPipe and how to continue to use it with /e/OS?

Continue reading on our website.

🔒Don’t let Google control what happens on your device!

Some app developers implement strict Google Play Integrity API – although nothing and nobody forces them to do so.

💡 The result? Their apps can only be used with Google services.

Want to keep using the apps you’re used to on your device?

Support the campaign at:

👉 appzwang.de & 👉 appdwang.nl!

Take action to keep control of your device!

The EU might know more about you than you think...

❓ What's the status of Chat Control?

Despite lots of resistance, the law was adopted:

❌ Warrantless scanning of private messages

❌ Platforms can share private message contents with governments

If you too believe that this is more about gov surveillance and a lot less about security for the people,

👉 Reach out to your MEPs: https://fightchatcontrol.eu

Not every law lasts! Chat Control 1.0 will be active until April 2028 – speak out now to avoid permanent chat surveillance.

#StopChatControl

Fair Tech Summit Europe on Oct 6 in Luxembourg

The Fair Tech Summit: 🦾 Together Towards Digital Sovereignty.

If you somehow love tech - but at the same time you’re aware that...

❌ Smart devices generate a significant portion of global e-waste

❌ Most tech companies collect your data like Pokémon cards

❌ These companies can wipe out your digital world with the push of a button

Then this event is for you!

It exists, because we believe that it’s high time for a more ethical tech world.

At the Fair Tech Summit, Mobifree & FairTEC are bringing together tech voices that stand for change.

🎤 Key notes from tech leaders and hackers who care about our planet, our people and our privacy – in Luxembourg, the heart of Europe. 💚

👉 Register for free before spots fill up: https://fairtechsummit.org/#register

💚 Enjoy every moment with the Fairphone (Gen.6) and Murena’s /e/OS!

With the Moments button, Fairphone has created something unique: it offers you a minimalist smartphone experience.

But what does this switch do on Murena’s version of the device?

💡 By default, it turns off mic & cam.

BUT

You can make it a shortcut for...

🔸Fairphone Moments

🔸Do Not Disturb

🔸Flight Mode

🔸Torch Light

🔸Dark & Light Mode or

🔸Battery Saver

Simply go to Settings > System > Buttons and select the switch action.

Which mode will you choose for your device? Share your experience in the comments 👇

Screenshots showing different buttons to choose the switch action like Sensor Privacy or Fairphone Moments

Not long ago we talked about Google restricting downloads and installations from the internet on Android:

🔒Lock-in dressed up as security.🔒

So what does this look like on devices running /e/OS?

With /e/OS, so-called “sideloading” isn't gated behind scare screens or bureaucratic hurdles.

You install what you choose, whether it’s from F-Droid, a developer's website or your own build.

🔸Full APK installation

🔸No mandatory Google account gating what you can install

🔸App Lounge with privacy scores

🔸Transparent open-source ecosystem

By choosing /e/OS, you’re making a small step that can make a big difference for your digital freedom. Keep Android open.

👉 https://keepandroidopen.org

⚠️ Remember when downloading and installing an app from the internet was just a checkbox away?

For years, Android stood out from iOS because you could install apps from anywhere. Developers, FOSS communities, and users in restrictive regimes depended on it. It wasn't a bug, but a force.

Now Google is extending its gatekeeping from the Play Store to every alternative distribution channel on Android. The framing is "security," while many voices from the open-source community are warning that it’s about the one thing that interests Big Tech the most:

🔒Lock-in, which increases their power and decreases our diversity. 🔑

This isn't about convenience. It's about who decides what runs on a device you own.

💡 The good news: So-called “sideloading” on Murena smartphones and any other devices running /e/OS remains possible.

👉 https://keepandroidopen.org

"/e/OS largest mobile OS in the Netherlands after iOS and Android"

The Dutch tech platform Tweakers has conducted a survey on operating system usage in the Netherlands.

Guess which OS ranks as the third most used... 😎

👉 View the survey: https://tweakers.net/poll/4466/gebruik-jij-een-alternatief-besturingssysteem-op-je-telefoon.html