Compared to regular SIM cards.
SIMs are easier to swap if needing to switch phone, but I only see this as a convenience. I don’t see why it would be more private.
I have little knowledge on how eSIMs work, but something in the back of my mind, tells me that somehow, eSIMs are bad for privacy :(
Anybody care to share their views on this?
It depends whether you can buy one anonymously - you probably can’t, I guess, as for what I know, providers tend to offer eSIM only with contracts and not prepaid options. Physical SIMs you can get on the street in many places, vending machines, eBay, wherever.
Tho there isn’t really any reason why eSIMs couldn’t be sold the same way, as it’s just a QR code.
The other problem is that in order to move the eSIM from one phone to another, it needs to be deactivated on the first one, which requires an internet connection. That’s more of a practical concern than one of privacy I guess.
Unfortunately there are many countries where the law requires activation with identity documents.
Surely somewhere one can find them already activated, but I wonder what legal or other kind of problems it may cause.
Most countries in fact, but you can get them if you want. Though I guess you never know if it’s not a honeypot operation.
you can get pre-paid esims easily with Arlo and other travel e-sim vendors. If you use a gift card to pay, its pretty anonymous (but once you tie it to a phone, you lose that)
Cool, it’s still more of an exception though. Here in most of Europe it’s barely a thing.