muh cloud.
sms uses the telco network. why would it go to xiaomi server.
are they just backing up your messages? how do you recover the messages then? try to wipe your phone see if it restores your messages.
in the article, xiaomi defended they would encrypt your messages. did you create a key or password for it? no? that means the key is with xiaomi. that is not how privacy works.
they said they wouldn't use the info against you, that just mean they won't directly threaten you, nothing about data mining, etc.
xiaomi is doing this without any user permission, i know botnet when i see one.
they can't even release the kernel source which is under gpl and you're suppose to just trust them?
you guys are just in denial.
this isn't just baseless paranoia, it smells fishy afterall.
cyanogenmod will be the best solution but that will take time if there's even a developer working on it.
otherwise use a firewall and ban china.
you get what you paid, in this case you sold yourself for a telephone. how cheap.
you have been warned.
yes, it will restore your messages if you choose to enable cloud backup. Very useful if u lost your phone or need to reinstall your rom.