--- title: "Blogs" description: "" url: "https://pixelunion.eu/blog/" --- # Blogs - [Immich v3.2.0](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-release-v3.2.0/index.md): Immich v3.2.0 brings a redesigned search window, a dedicated memories page, tag renaming, and shared people recognition. - [Trump: Free $5,000 for Everyone!](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/09/5000-free-money/index.md): Trump promises every adult American $5,000 if the Republicans hold Congress. A European look at why that makes no legal or economic sense whatsoever. - [How to export your Google Photos library without losing the metadata](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/how-to-keep-metadata-when-exporting-google-photos/index.md): Google Takeout hands you a folder of photos and a pile of JSON files, and if you just unzip and open them, your dates and locations are gone. Here is how I got my library out with the metadata intact. - [Google and Apple Now Call Lake Ontario "Lake America"](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/09/lake-ontarino/index.md): Google and Apple updated their world maps within days at the request of the White House. It exposes just how vulnerable our dependence on American Big Tech really is. - [Meta's Addiction Machine Is on Trial](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/08/meta-trial/index.md): Meta is facing a massive lawsuit over deliberately hooking children and teenagers on its platforms. Here's why PixelUnion offers a different path. - [The Digital Guillotine: A Wake-Up Call for Your Data](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/08/digital-guillotine/index.md): The US campaign against the ICC shows how easily a person's entire digital life can be deleted by executive order. Here's why that matters for where you store your data. - [What is data sovereignty, and why does it matter for your photos?](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/what-is-data-sovereignty/index.md): Data sovereignty is one of those phrases that shows up in every privacy policy and rarely gets explained. Here is what it actually means, what it does not mean, and why the difference matters for the photos you store online. - [immich-archiver: mirroring your photo library to your own disk](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/07/immich-archiver/index.md): We built a small open-source tool that copies your PixelUnion library to a folder on your own hard drive, with the full metadata preserved alongside every file. Here is how it works and what it does not do yet. - [€890 million fine for Google, Google's invisible wall!](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/07/google-dma-boete/index.md): Google has again been fined hundreds of millions by the European Commission for breaching the Digital Markets Act. What does 'self-preferencing' mean for creators and their images? - [The AI inside your photo library, and why we moved it onto our own GPUs](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/07/ai-on-our-own-gpus/index.md): Immich runs three machine learning jobs to make your photos searchable: smart search, face recognition, and OCR. Here is what each one does, the models behind them, and why we now run them on our own graphics cards instead of on CPUs. - [Why it's time to leave Google Photos](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/07/time-to-leave-google/index.md): Google Photos is cheap and convenient, but you pay with your privacy. We lay out the risks and show why a European alternative is worth it. - [Immich v3.0 Is Here](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/07/immich-v3/index.md): The first major version bump since v2: a proper photo editor on mobile, automated workflows, far more reliable Android backups, and a new video player. Here's what changed for you. - [What is metadata, and what does your photo actually tell people?](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/what-is-metadata/index.md): You took a photo. But the file contains a lot more than just the image. GPS coordinates, the time, your device, sometimes even your face — all baked in automatically. Here is what metadata is and why it matters. - [America's Digital Kill Switch](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/06/digital-kill-switch/index.md): A U.S. export ban wiped out access to the world's most advanced AI overnight. It's a wake-up call for anyone still relying on American cloud infrastructure. - [What is GDPR, and does it actually protect you?](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/what-is-gdpr/index.md): GDPR is everywhere — cookie banners, privacy policies, scary-sounding acronyms. But what does it actually mean for you and your data? A plain-language guide to your real rights. - [Why Cloud Costs Are Exploding](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/06/cloud-cost/index.md): AI is driving up the cost of RAM and storage globally. Here's what's happening in the market, and what it means for European cloud providers like PixelUnion. - [What Anthropic’s Forced Shutdown Means for European Sovereignty](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/06/antphoic-mythos-export-controls/index.md): When a U.S. export-control order silenced Anthropic's Claude Fable 5 across Europe overnight, it shattered the myth of the 'safe American cloud', and proved digital sovereignty is now a survival requirement. - [Clicking Off the World Cup: Are Your Memories Safe?](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/clicking-off-the-world-cup/index.md): The FIFA World Cup 2026 has kicked off in North America. Billions of photos will be taken. Here's why storing them safely and privately matters more than ever. - [DigiD and the fight for our digital sovereignty](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/05/digid/index.md): Why the Dutch government blocked the takeover of DigiD infrastructure by an American company, and what that says about privacy, digital autonomy, and European data sovereignty. - [On This Day: How Immich Brings Your Memories Back to the Surface](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/05/immich-memories/index.md): Immich's Memories feature surfaces photos from previous years on the same date. A daily reminder of moments you might otherwise never revisit. Here is how it works and why it matters. - [Your Whole Life in One Map: Browsing Photos by Location in Immich](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/05/immich-map-view/index.md): Immich's map view shows you exactly where in the world every photo was taken — turning your library into a visual travel log you can explore by clicking anywhere on the globe. - [Albums Without Limits: How Immich Lets You Organise and Share Your Photos Your Way](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/05/immich-albums/index.md): Albums in Immich are simple but powerful. You can organise your library however makes sense to you, and share specific collections with family or friends - privately, on your own terms. - [PixelUnion turns one: we're celebrating!](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/05/one-year-anniversary/index.md): PixelUnion is one year old! We're celebrating with a free storage upgrade from 1TB to 2TB and a new 450GB plan for €4.95 per month. - [Find Any Photo With Words: How Immich's AI-Powered Smart Search Works](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/04/immich-smart-search/index.md): Immich uses CLIP, an open-source AI model, to understand the content of your photos - so you can search for 'sunset at the beach' or 'birthday cake' and actually find them. No tags required. - [Faces You Know, Photos You Can Find: How Immich's Facial Recognition Works](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/04/immich-facial-recognition/index.md): Immich recognises the people in your photos and groups them together - privately, on your own server, with no data sent to Big Tech. Here is how it works and why it matters. - [Immich v2.7.5: Stability Improvements and Deduplication Enhancements](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/04/immich-v2.7.5/index.md): Immich v2.7.5 brings improved deduplication features, better security infrastructure, and important bug fixes. All PixelUnion users are being upgraded today. - [Adieu Windows: Why the French Government Is Choosing Linux](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/04/france-linux/index.md): France is switching to Linux and open source. Discover why digital sovereignty matters, and how PixelUnion applies the same values to your photos. - [Background Backup: The Feature That Makes Your Photo Safety Actually Work](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/04/immich-background-backup/index.md): Backup only matters if it happens without you thinking about it. Here is how Immich's background backup keeps your photos safe automatically — and how to make sure it stays running on your device. - [Big Tech's Compliance Record: How Often Google, Apple, and Microsoft Hand Over Your Data to Governments](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/04/big-tech-compliance-record/index.md): Official transparency reports show that Google, Apple, and Microsoft receive hundreds of thousands of government data requests annually and comply with the majority of them. - [Your Photos Are One Dropped Phone Away From Gone: Why Automatic Backup Matters](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/04/immich-mobile-backup/index.md): Most people assume their photos are safe because they live on a phone. They are not. Here is what automatic mobile backup actually does — and why it should run without you thinking about it. - [What if America Leaves NATO?](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/04/what-if-america-leaves-nato/index.md): Trump is threatening to undermine NATO. But Europe's real vulnerability isn't in tanks or soldiers, it's in data. And that data runs on American servers. - [Faces You Know, Privacy You Keep: Facial Recognition Done Right](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/03/facial-recognition-open-source-privacy/index.md): PixelUnion and Immich use powerful open-source AI models to recognize faces in your photo library - with impressive accuracy, and without ever training on your data. - [How to Use Tags in Immich to Finally Bring Order to Your Photo Library](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/03/immich-tags-organize-your-library/index.md): Tags in Immich let you organise your photos your way - hierarchical, flexible, and tied to your existing metadata. Here is how to put them to work. - [The US CLOUD Act Explained: What It Means for Your Photos and Privacy](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/03/cloud-act-plain-english/index.md): A plain-English guide to understanding the CLOUD Act, why it affects your personal data even in Europe, and what you can do about it. - [Immich as a Service: Everything You Love About Immich, Without Running It Yourself](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/03/immich-managed-saas/index.md): Immich is the best open-source alternative to Google Photos - but running it yourself is a real job. PixelUnion offers Immich as a fully managed European service, so you get the privacy without the ops burden. - [Google Is Closing Android: And Taking Your Freedom With It](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/03/google-closing-android-ecosystem/index.md): Google is systematically dismantling the open Android ecosystem: forcing all developers to register with Google, slowing AOSP releases, and effectively turning Android into a walled garden. Here is what is at stake. - [Immich v2.6.0: What's New and Rolling Out to PixelUnion Users Now](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/03/immich-v2-6-0/index.md): Immich v2.6.0 brings a richer map experience, major mobile improvements, native HTTP clients, and more. We are rolling out this release to all PixelUnion users right now. - [How to Export Your Google Photos or iCloud Library: A Step-by-Step Guide](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/03/export-google-photos-step-by-step/index.md): Take control of your photos with this practical guide to exporting from Google Photos or iCloud and migrating to a privacy-first European alternative. - [Every PixelUnion Plan Comes With a Family Plan - No Extra Cost](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/03/family-plan-included/index.md): Most cloud storage providers charge extra to share your subscription with family. PixelUnion doesn't. Multi-user access is included in every plan, so your whole family's photos stay safe and private without paying more. - [Goodbye Passwords: PixelUnion Now Supports Passkeys](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/03/passkeys-and-2fa-why-they-matter/index.md): We've enabled passkey support in our login system. Here's what passkeys are, why they're dramatically safer than passwords, and why you should also turn on two-factor authentication on your account today. - [The Window Is Closing: Get Your Data Out of the US While You Still Can](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/03/window-is-closing-move-your-data/index.md): As the US wages war in the Middle East and threatens NATO allies with economic ultimatums, your personal data sitting on American servers is no longer just a privacy issue - it's a geopolitical risk. Here's what ordinary people can do right now. - [Social Media Addiction: The Dangers of Social Media](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/social-media-addiction/index.md): Discover the dark side of social media: how algorithms and 'brain rot' hijack our dopamine system, affect our mental health, and why digital autonomy is essential. - [Our Reddit AMA](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/02/reddit-ama/index.md): Our Reddit AMA: Why Europe needs its own ‘Google Photos’ (and 7 other key insights) - [Finally: Leave Google Photos with a Few Clicks](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/migration-tool/index.md): Discover how the new PixelUnion Migration Tool makes switching from Google Photos easier than ever. No terminal messing around, but a simple browser experience with the power of Immich-go. - [Data breach on Flickr](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2026/02/time-to-move-your-flickr-library/index.md): After Flickr’s 2026 data breach, European users face a choice: convenience at risk or privacy-first, EU-hosted control with PixelUnion. - [European alternatives](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/eu-alternatives/index.md): An overview of European alternatives to popular US online services, focusing on privacy, data storage within the EU, and digital sovereignty. - [Immich v2.5](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-release-v2.5/index.md): Immich's 90,000 Star Release: What v2.5 Means For You - [Why PixelUnion is the safe and reliable alternative to WeTransfer in 2026](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/wetransfer/index.md): Discover why PixelUnion is the trusted alternative to WeTransfer in 2026. Choose European storage, no tracking, and innovative sharing options for full control over your data and privacy. - [Why Europe Can No Longer Blindly Trust America (And Neither Can Your Photos)](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/dont-trust-america/index.md): From the Greenland crisis to digital dependency: read why the US is no longer a safe haven for your data and why it's time for European digital autonomy. - [Our Digital Colony: Why Europe's Dependence on the US is a Threat We Can No Longer Ignore](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/eu-digital-colony/index.md): Europe's near-total dependence on US tech companies has become a critical vulnerability. When Microsoft blocked the ICC's email access and the CLOUD Act grants extraterritorial data access, the threat to European digital sovereignty is no longer theoretical-it's happening now. - [2026: take back your digital freedom, start with your photos](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/start-2026/index.md): New year, practical privacy: take back your digital freedom and secure your 2025 memories. Upload your photos to PixelUnion with a 50% New Year discount. - [2025: The year Europe woke up](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/2025/index.md): 2025 painfully showed how dependent Europe is on Big Tech-from a ‘kill switch’ and data exploitation to the need to bring data back under European protection. - [Immich v2.4.0](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-release-v2.4.0/index.md): Immich v2.4.0 is here: Command Palette, Shared Album Ownership Labels, and Mobile UX Refinements! - [Scaling Immich: How We Re-engineered Reverse Geocoding for Massive Photo Libraries](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/scaling-reverse-geocoding/index.md): How PixelUnion re-engineered Immich's reverse geocoding feature to scale across thousands of photo libraries by decoupling it into a centralized microservice. - [ImmichFrame](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immichframe/index.md): Your Memories, Your Screens: Bringing Your Immich Library to Life with ImmichFrame. - [From trend to ownership: how Big Tech profits from your photos](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/ai-training/index.md): Why AI photo trends put your privacy at risk-and how European storage and open‑source tools let you stay in control of your photos. - [Migrating to Keycloak: Our Journey to Enhanced Security](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/identity-provider-migration-keycloak/index.md): Learn about PixelUnion's migration to Keycloak as our identity provider, why we switched from Authentik, and what this means for your account security. - [HELP SUDAN](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/sudan/sudan/index.md): From Digital Safety to Physical Protection: Why we're taking action for Sudan this Christmas - [Immich Kiosk](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-kiosk/index.md): Introducing Immich Kiosk: A Deep Dive into Your New Favorite Digital Photo Frame - [While the Web Waits: Why PixelUnion Remains Online During Today's Cloudflare Outage](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/bunny-cdn/index.md): Discover how PixelUnion stays online during major web outages by leveraging bunny.net for reliable and privacy-focused content delivery. - [PixelUnion: Hosted Immich for Hassle-Free Photo Backup and Management](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/pixelunion-hosted-immich/index.md): Discover PixelUnion, the hosted Immich solution that makes photo backup and management easy without the need for server maintenance. - [PixelUnion donates 20% to aid in Sudan (Nov 24 – Dec 25)](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/start_help_sudan/index.md): Announcement: From November 24 to December 25, PixelUnion will donate 20% of revenue to humanitarian aid in Sudan via the Red Cross. Choose EU‑privacy and make an immediate impact. - [Away from Big Tech: reclaim your privacy and data](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/weg_van_big_tech/index.md): Big Tech turns you into a product and sells your data. Learn how to switch to privacy-friendly alternatives and take back control of your digital life. - [Immich v2.2](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-release-v2.2/index.md): Immich v2.2.0 Has Landed: OCR Search, Blazing-Fast Performance, and Major UX Upgrades! - [Google blocks Immich site](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-site-blocked-by-google/index.md): How a Single Internal Link Can Nuke Your Entire Domain: A Cautionary Tale from Google's 'Safe Browsing' - [Immich v2.0.0. Immich's Stable v2.0.0 Release and What It Means for PixelUnion Users](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-release-v2.0.0-stable/index.md): We are thrilled to announce a landmark achievement for the entire privacy-focused photo storage community. **Immich**, the powerful open-source project that serves as the foundation for the PixelUnion platform, has officially launched its first stable version: **v2.0.0**. - [Google's Gemini Update Will Access Your Texts and Calls-Even When It's 'Off'](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/google-photos-and-gemini/index.md) - [The Keys to Our European Castle: Why We Picked Authentik for PixelUnion (and Immich!)](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/pixelunion-chooses-authentik/index.md): Discover why PixelUnion chose Authentik as our Identity Provider (IDP) to ensure top-notch security and privacy for our European-based photo management service. - [European Alternative to Google Photos: PixelUnion](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/european-alternative-google-photos/index.md): Looking for a European, privacy‑friendly and open-source alternative to Google Photos? Discover how PixelUnion keeps your photos safely in Europe with comparable features-without tracking. - [Immich v1.142.0: Timeline Becomes Default, Geolocation Upgrades, and More!](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-release-v1.142/index.md): Announcing Immich v1.142.0: Beta timeline is now default, geolocation utility gets a timeline view, resume all jobs button, and more. Discover how these features improve your photo management workflows. - [FTC Undermines the DSA: A New Front in Data Security Policy](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/ftc-undermines-dsa/index.md): How the FTC is telling US companies to ignore the EU's Digital Services Act, and what this means for global privacy. - [Immich v1.140.0 Release Highlights](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-release-v1.140/index.md) - [Privacy Washing: Why Big Tech Doesn’t Really Care About Your Privacy](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/privacy-washing/index.md): Discover why tech giants like Google and Meta don’t protect your privacy nearly as much as they claim. “Privacy Washing” is everywhere-are you still falling for it? Read on to see what’s really going on. - [Google to Restrict Android Sideloading](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/google-sideloading-restictions/index.md): Google has announced a major change for Android users: new restrictions on sideloading apps are coming soon. - [WhatsApp’s Mandatory AI: Why It’s Time to Consider Signal](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/whatsapp-mandatory-ai/index.md): WhatsApp's new AI features raise significant privacy concerns. As mandatory integration looms, is it time to switch to Signal? - [Immich v1.139 & v1.138](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-release-v1.139/index.md): Immich v1.139 & v1.138: Major Feature Updates! - [Immich v1.137](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-release-v1.137/index.md): Immich v1.137: Fast-Paced Updates and Powerful New Features! - [Immich v1.136](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-release-v1.136/index.md): Immich v1.136: A Midsummer Release Packed with New Features! - [Microsoft Admits No Sovereignty: A Critical Analysis](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/microsoft-admits-no-sovereignty/index.md): Examining Microsoft's inability to guarantee data sovereignty for UK policing data and its implications for cloud users. - [Switzerland’s New Surveillance Law: A Privacy Crisis for Encrypted Services](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/switzerlands-new-surveillance-law/index.md): A proposed update to Swiss surveillance law (VÜPF) threatens the privacy of VPN and encrypted chat and email providers. What does this mean for the future of privacy in Switzerland and beyond? - [PixelUnion Surpasses 3,000 Users](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/3000-users/index.md): Celebrating our milestone of 3,000 users and looking forward to the future. Thank you for your trust in PixelUnion! - [Why Self-Hosting Immich Can Be Risky: The Importance of Professional Photo Storage](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-self-hosting-risks/index.md): Self-hosting Immich can be risky without proper knowledge and resources. Learn why professional photo storage is essential for your memories. - [Immich v1.135](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-release-v1.135/index.md): Immich v1.135: A Power-Packed Release for Your PixelUnion Experience! - [immich-folder-album-creator](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-folder-album-creator/index.md): immich-folder-album-creator, a powerful command-line tool that bridges the gap between your local folders and Immich albums - [PixelUnion on heise](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/heise/index.md) - [Update at PixelUnion: Immich v1.134.0 is Live!](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/new-update-v1.334.0/index.md): Discover the latest features and improvements in our fork of Immich v1.133 and v1.134 - built to elevate your media management experience. - [Escaping the Cloud Trap: Time for a European Alternative](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/european-cloud/index.md): Arjen Lubach asked a pressing question last Thursday in his TV show LUBACH: could Trump digitally shut down the Netherlands? Spoiler alert: yes, he could. - [PixelUnion Surpasses 1,000 Users – Thank You!](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/1000-users/index.md): Celebrating our first 1,000 users and looking forward to the future. Thank you for your trust in PixelUnion! - [PixelUnion is Now Live on Product Hunt!](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/product-hunt/index.md): We’re excited to announce our launch on Product Hunt! Learn what this means for PixelUnion and our community. - [Getting Started with PixelUnion](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/getting-started/index.md): A guide to help you get started with PixelUnion, including uploading photos and using the mobile app. - [PixelUnion Featured on GoEuropean.org](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/goeuropean-org/index.md): Discover why being featured on GoEuropean.org is a milestone for PixelUnion and what it means for our users. - [Immich v1.132](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-release-1.132.0/index.md): Explore the latest features and improvements in our fork of Immich v1.132, designed to enhance your media management experience. - [Special Launch Offer: PixelUnion.eu – A European Alternative to Google Photos](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/pixelunion-special-launch-offer/index.md): Discover PixelUnion.eu, the secure and private European alternative to Google Photos, with a special launch offer. - [Using the Immich API](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/immich-api/index.md) - [We've reach BETA stage](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/beta/index.md): Learn how PixelUnion has reached it's beta stage and whats next - [From Google Photos to PixelUnion: Our Journey to a European Tech Alternative ](https://pixelunion.eu/blog/google-photos-alternative/index.md)