Telegram on the other hand does not compromise on features and user experience and still is able to deliver a system that doesn't disrespect the user data.
I don't have special insight into either WhatsApp or Telegram, but I think given the founders and jurisdictions in which they operate, Telegram deserves at least the same level of scepticism and scrutiny as TikTok.
I don't think Telegram deserves scrutiny. Not after what they've been able to accomplish and follow.
> indeed it was _suggested_ by many of them, both technical and non-technical as preferable to SMS, so I don't think it can be that bad.
It's not bad of course, but it's extremely hard to get WhatsApp users to switch to Signal than Telegram. Both because of missing WhatsApp features in Signal and the additional hoops like PIN.
I'm Just speaking from personal experience. Signal was also my first choice.
Every communication channel deserves scrutiny according to the threat model of a given user.
Telegram is a good compromise. Yeah it's not e2ee.
Signal isn't even a good compromise for most people. I don't know anyone who has stuck with signal in my circles. They've nearly all reverted back their previous service or find a new one.
Personally I treat everything that is sent over networks as public data. So I would never comm anything that needed e2ee via a message service full stop.
That does not sound like a good compromise to me.