I know there's alternative ROMs such as LineageOS, but I wish it was possible to install Android directly from Google. Like, you download an app from the Play Store, it scans your hardware and download a fresh Android build from Google compatible with your device and your done.

Not really doable, but I wish it was.

This might be in the realm of possibility with the new HAL (Project Treble) they introduced in the latest Android.

As a OnePlus user, what can I do about this? Is there a well supported third party ROM (?) I can use?

I emailed oneplus support and complained about their data collection and their lack of documentation about what is collected. Let them know actual paying customers care about this. It's not much but it's not nothing.

Buy a different phone.

There is lineage OS no? I thought that's what one plus users install anyways.

Go for lineageOS. https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-2/orig-development

pm uninstall -k --user 0 net.oneplus.odm

This is what I did on mine, I haven't confirmed that it is no longer sending anything to oneplus but it did remove the package.

To clarify:

* Make sure adb is installed (https://www.xda-developers.com/install-adb-windows-macos-lin...)

* Run "adb shell" (you should see a prompt that says OnePlus)

* Run "pm uninstall -k --user 0 net.oneplus.odm" (you should see "Success")

Block "open.oneplus.net" via DNS66/AdAway or something similar.

You can opt out they say in the article

From the bottom of the article:

> As TechCrunch noted, the opt-out provision also does not appear to actually stop the data collection, but simply removes tags linking the data to a specific device

Was/Is OnePlus 3T also affected? (asking for a friend)

According to the Reddit post some weeks ago, yes.

Do you have a link to this reddit post/thread? (asking for the same friend)

I (wrongly ?) assumed every Android phones did this

Probably not. Seems this stuff is too easy and too tempting not to do.