Jochem on PixelUnion - Free your photos from American tech platforms

Migrating to Keycloak: Our Journey to Enhanced Security

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Migrating to Keycloak: Our Journey to Enhanced Security

As we continue building PixelUnion-your privacy-focused Google Photos alternative from Europe-we’re constantly working to improve security and user experience. Today, we want to share an important update about our identity provider migration and what it means for you.

Why We Need an Identity Provider

Our platform is built on Immich, an incredible open-source photo management solution. However, Immich is designed with a specific philosophy: it focuses on being the best photo management software, not on reinventing identity management.

The Keys to Our European Castle: Why We Picked Authentik for PixelUnion (and Immich!)

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Keys to Our European Castle: Why We Picked Authentik for PixelUnion (and Immich!)

As you know, we’re running PixelUnion-your privacy-focused Google Photos alternative from Europe. Our whole operation is founded on the belief that Europe should fend for itself, and the tech we build here can hold up to its American counterparts.

When you’re building a platform, there’s one service that is absolutely non-negotiable for security: the Identity Provider (IDP). This cornerstone holds the identity of our users and the keys to the castles. For us, it’s a core value that critical services like this must be based in Europe.

Google to Restrict Android Sideloading

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Google to Restrict Android Sideloading: What This Means for European Users

Google has announced a major change for Android users: new restrictions on sideloading apps are coming soon. According to a recent TechSpot article, Google will begin blocking the installation of unverified Android apps, dramatically limiting the freedom users have enjoyed for years. For European users-and anyone who values digital autonomy-this is a significant development.

What is Sideloading?

Sideloading lets users install apps on their Android devices from sources other than the official Google Play Store. It’s a feature that has always set Android apart from Apple’s tightly controlled ecosystem, giving users the flexibility to access apps that might not be available on the Play Store, including open-source projects, region-specific tools, and privacy-focused alternatives.

Microsoft Admits No Sovereignty: A Critical Analysis

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Recent revelations about Microsoft highlight the challenges of ensuring data sovereignty in the cloud. Documents show that Microsoft cannot guarantee sensitive law enforcement data will remain within the UK, despite public claims to the contrary. This raises serious concerns for individuals and organizations relying on hyperscale cloud providers for their data storage needs.

Why This Matters

When you store your data on global cloud platforms like Microsoft OneDrive or Google Photos, it might be transferred and processed overseas. This makes it harder to comply with local laws like GDPR, which protect your privacy. For European users, this lack of control over where their data goes is a growing concern.

Getting Started with PixelUnion

Fri, 16 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

PixelUnion is designed to make managing your photos seamless and intuitive. Whether you’re using the web interface or the mobile app, getting started is quick and easy. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you begin your journey with PixelUnion.

Uploading Photos Using the Web Interface

When creating your own PixelUnion environment you choose your username. Access your environment using this username, like: https://(your-username).pixelunion.eu.

Using the Immich API

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

What’s an API? (And Why Should You Care?)

Imagine you’re at a restaurant. You look at the menu, pick your favorite dish, and tell the waiter what you want. The waiter takes your order to the kitchen and brings your food back to you. Easy, right?

In the tech world, an API (Application Programming Interface) is like that waiter. It helps two systems talk to each other and share information. Without APIs, apps wouldn’t know how to fetch your favorite cat videos, send messages, or even show you the weather. (And who wants to live without cat videos?)

From Google Photos to PixelUnion: Our Journey to a European Tech Alternative

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In this post, I shared my quest to ‘de-Americanize’ my digital life. With recent geopolitical shifts between the US and EU, I’ve been motivated to reduce my reliance on big tech. I’ve swapped Google Drive for Nextcloud, replaced Google Search with Ecosia, and even switched to Zoho Mail. But one major service remained: Google Photos.

Finding a European alternative to Google Photos has been challenging. While there are other drive options, and Nextcloud could technically store my photos, none of them offer the same seamless experience for viewing and storing memories.