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Signal registration without a phone number now available in Android beta (but payment required!) (aboutsignal.com)
submitted 2 weeks ago by to c/signal@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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Signal has started rolling out Signal Login, an optional registration method that allows users to create a Signal account without providing a phone number. The feature will be rolled out first on Android and will come to iOS later.

As we previously reported, Signal Login is not a free alternative registration method. Signal requires users who choose to register without a phone number to make a one-time payment. The price at launch is $2.99 / € 3.49, although this may vary by region and currency

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[–] 3 points 2 weeks ago (11 children)

Oh a payment, how privacy-respecting. /s

Well, depends on the offered payment option (article doesn't go into detail here).
And I also don't see it to be worse than having to provide your phone number.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 weeks ago (8 children)

    What's the point of introducing it if it's merely "not worse"?

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  • [–] 3 points 2 weeks ago (7 children)

    Because "not worse" includes "better" for certain usecases, e.g. to add the Wifi-only family tablet.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 weeks ago* (6 children)

    I'm not paying 3.49€ for that.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 weeks ago* (5 children)

    Your choice, and a totally understandable one.

    But I already paid several times even ~5€ for exactly that, so that my kids have a way to securely take part in a phone-number-free private family group chat.
    (Threema based though, which had the phone-number-less option right from the start)

    It is always good to just have the option.

    And if you don't need it: Fine for you!

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  • [–] 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (4 children)

    The thing is, I wanted a phone number-free option for privacy reasons, which can't be realized when its tied to payments.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 weeks ago* (3 children)

    The thing, I wanted a phone number-free option for privacy reasons, which can’t be realized when its tied to payments.

    But privacy doesn't depend on a payment per se, but entirely on the type of payment method offered (which we don't know yet, as I already stated in my original comment).

    Coming back to e.g. Threema: You can buy a working Threema license key using completely anonymous payment, e.g. bitcoin, or even by cash.

    Having the option to pay instead of providing the phone number has the potential to be the much more privacy friendly option, if it is done right...

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  • [–] 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

    Seems a bit difficult, I'm not particularly interested in going through all the hoops that come with trying to own cryptocurrency anonymously, and actual cash payments don't seem practical considering that the Signal organisation is US-based (I don't live in America; I'd absolutely try my luck with sending a letter with a 5€ note to e.g. Switzerland).

    And it's not really about the price, I'd happily donate 3.50, but not directly tied to my messenger account.

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