In many countries, burner phones require registration with biometrics as well.
For example, Germany requires registration of burner phones with ID or passport before any network is allowed to activate the SIM. The ID and passport obviously are linked to your fingerprints and face.
Signal is advertised to people in oppressive regimes as a solution to avoid the government from snooping on their messages (this security from nation states is further implied due to their framing of Snowden comments).
Requiring an identifier that’s linked to a government ID is the opposite of that.
It works in the US where the govt doesn’t even understand the meaning of the word “privacy” so, yes it seems to work. It works elsewhere too, but understandably it might require money or effort to get going.
Comments
3. Use a burner phone.
In many countries, burner phones require registration with biometrics as well.
For example, Germany requires registration of burner phones with ID or passport before any network is allowed to activate the SIM. The ID and passport obviously are linked to your fingerprints and face.
Signal is advertised to people in oppressive regimes as a solution to avoid the government from snooping on their messages (this security from nation states is further implied due to their framing of Snowden comments).
Requiring an identifier that’s linked to a government ID is the opposite of that.
Between a burner or a VOIP number there seem to be options, and I’m not sure that Signal dropping their requirement would improve the platform.
As I said, a burner isn’t an option, as that still requires registration, and a VOIP number costs money.
At the stated goal, of being a free app to allow people to avoid government surveillance, Signal is failing horribly.
It sounds like it works well for about 5/6ths of the world’s population.
A secure messenger that only works when you have a government that respects their citizens privacy isn't very useful, is it?
It works in the US where the govt doesn’t even understand the meaning of the word “privacy” so, yes it seems to work. It works elsewhere too, but understandably it might require money or effort to get going.