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by imiric 1299 days ago
Sure, but couldn't you just use a disposable number? (Assuming you live in a place where you can buy SIM cards without showing a personal ID, which is most countries.)

That's a minor inconvenience compared to not being able to communicate with most people who use these mainstream networks.

I'm more worried about the lack of encryption and trustworthiness aspect of them than giving away a phone number.
4 comments
ls15 1299 days ago
Most countries require SIM card registration nowadays.

https://www.phonetravelwiz.com/phone-travel-options/sim-card...

> Of the 245 countries/territories with territory-bound mobile operators, 185 countries have SIM card registration laws. 13 will collect biometrics (fingerprints, but some will take a face scan too). 51 countries have no registration requirements.

Which by itself is questionable.

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happymellon 1299 days ago
A lot of people talk down on the UK invading privacy, but interestingly we don't require it!
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imiric 1299 days ago
Hmm I didn't think it would be that many. I'm sure there might be workarounds, like ordering online or buying from vending machines at airports, etc., but yeah, it's certainly not as convenient as before.
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chopin 1299 days ago
The problem isn't buying the SIM card, the problem is activating it.
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logifail 1299 days ago
> Assuming you live in a place where you can buy SIM cards without showing a personal ID, which is most countries

I had understood that the majority of countries now required SIM card registration. Plenty of EU member states do (at least Belgium, Austria, Italy, Germany...), so it's not just the usual suspects(!)

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StreamBright 1299 days ago
The are no disposable numbers in many countries anymore. On the top of that you are just generating even more signal than using a single number.

People have to understand that meta-data about you is almost as important as data.

For example just the fact that your phone has signal or telegram installed is meta-data that helps to identify you. They do not need to know your name.

And for bonus:

https://www.justsecurity.org/10311/michael-hayden-kill-peopl...

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2Gkashmiri 1299 days ago
you can't get disposable (anonymous) mobile numbers in india. >I'm more worried about the lack of encryption and trustworthiness aspect of them than giving away a phone number.

you can use your own encryption on top of a cleartext model if that is a problem

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