Post #1965573

2026-05-04 16:19 UTC

@kimapr @signalapp @knoppix95 the biggest issue with signal is that it's centralized, and this enables the second biggest issue: it requires unnecessary, very personal information to register this is even worse because in many countries, phone numbers are tied to your id, so this is effectively id verification

Replies (2)

@LunaDragofelis@void.lgbt 2026-05-04 16:23

@lumi @signalapp @kimapr @knoppix95 yes, in Germany phone numbers have been tied to ID for at least 12 years now When I got my SIM card in 2014 (I was 14 at the time) I forgot my ID card at home so the SIM card was registered in my mom's name because she had her ID with her. (Turned out to be a secret advantage because this way my deadname never got directly tied to my phone number)

Open ##1965574
@vfrmedia@social.tchncs.de 2026-05-04 16:27

@lumi @signalapp @kimapr @knoppix95 Phone numbers everywhere in the World don't even belong to the phone company, let alone the endusers. They are property of the Communications Ministry and treated as a public resource (there are only so many for each country), which does make their use as an identifier for anything potentially subversive problematic. (I still use Signal, but don't trust it (or any other form of electronic communication) 100%), and have multiple VOIP and mobile numbers (I build VOIP telephone exchanges for work) but only use those for non controversial stuff..

Open ##1965575