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Signal is just a company selling privacy (lemmy.sdf.org)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/technology

80 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Signal is a centralized app, run by a company. If they are offered enough money or legal threat they will sell out or close.

I am sure people will make an argument that its FOSS and people will just fork it if it goes bad, but a new fork will have 0 users and Signal will still have all of your old contacts. Why not make a switch now? Before it is even more popular and you have more reasons to stay? Why fork it if there are already decentralized apps that use same encryption, like XMPP apps?

Sure you can find flaws in every app, including XMPP implementations, but if we will have to write code for a new Signal fork, why not just fix whatever is that bugs you in XMPP clients?

If you want to use Matrix, that is fine as well, we can always bridge the two open protocols. But you cant bridge Signal if their company doesn't allow it.

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[–] Mountaineer 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm not goin to shit on Briar, I hope they build out their dream.

It's fundamentally not as easy to use.
My Grandma already has a phone with a full addressbook.
If she's told to install Signal, it'll just work as a drop in replacement for iMessage.

Briar meanwhile suggests sharing your contact info using another such as signal: https://briarproject.org/quick-start/#:~:text=When%20you%20choose%20%E2%80%9CAdd%20contact%20at%20a%20distance%E2%80%9D%2C%20Briar,choose%20a%20nickname%20for%20them.

Briar is chasing different goals.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The only part that is easier to use on Signal is also a serious privacy concern of sharing your phone number.

With decentralized apps you always have an option to add that feature, while with centralized apps like Signal you have to accept that your privacy is damaged.

In short, this argument for phone number is another argument why decentralized apps can be as user friendly as centralized, but not the other way around.

[–] Devils69Advocate 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I see your point, but what threat and their level of sophistication are you trying to avoid? The number is used just for registration. You can get a burner phone if you're worried about sharing your number.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In less and less countries we are allowed to buy phones and sim cards without an ID. Phone network is a centralized system, controlled by governments, we can't depend on that for privacy. The main treat to privacy has always been the current ruling government, they fear privacy, because they fear people organizing against them.

[–] Devils69Advocate 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'll give you not being able to buy SIMs without an ID; I didn't know that. But the rest is not as accurate. You should probably just not use a computer or phone to ensure complete security.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I wouldn't if that was a viable option. Today it is not really possible to not use technology, even not using mainstream apps will make you socially isolated and unemployable (which due to lack of decent social services, is a death sentence)