Re:Looking back at how Signal works
by enitihas on Friday June 05, 2020 @07:06PM
(#23435019)
Because mobile numbers enable much more easier use than emails. I talk to so many people on WhatsApp who don't even know what an email is, and would certainly never use the app if it couldn't pick their contacts from Contact List. The goal of Signal has always been "privacy for the masses". The experts always had 20 solutions available.
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no, we don't have 20 options available. we also need to talk to people who don't understand the problem and can't be persuaded to use one of those other options.
there is a difference between enabling phonenumbers as an ID vs requiring them.
signal could easily support both. (i read somewhere that they plan to support alternatives to phone numbers in the future, just haven't made it a priority. well, i'll wait. edit: actually it's mentioned here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23435050 )