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I do not like Telegram, I think it's very bad that it's become the defacto alternative platform for the right.
>requires a phone number to use
>group chats are not end-to-end encrypted
>DMs only end-to-end encrypted in special circumstances
>deleting your gc messages is tedious
>requires a phone number to use
>group chats are not end-to-end encrypted
>DMs only end-to-end encrypted in special circumstances
>deleting your gc messages is tedious
You can of course use a burner SIM or VOIP number (if you can find one that works), but the average person will not do this.
Using phone based authentication is a privacy and security nightmare.
Using phone based authentication is a privacy and security nightmare.
Your phone number is also visible to all users by default (last time I checked). You need to specifically tell Telegram to hide it from others.
Countless people have probably doxed their location to other users by accident due to this.
Countless people have probably doxed their location to other users by accident due to this.
The fact that group chats are not encrypted end-to-end is a serious problem.
Messages sent in them are thus the equivalent of sending a post card in the mail. The owners/operators of Telegram, and anyone who gains/is granted access to their servers, can read your message history
Messages sent in them are thus the equivalent of sending a post card in the mail. The owners/operators of Telegram, and anyone who gains/is granted access to their servers, can read your message history
DMs are not encrypted end-to-end, either. Except in one circumstance:
Both users must be using the mobile client, and they must enable an option called "secret chat". Then the DMs are encrypted end-to-end.
It's ONLY available to mobile users. Not web or desktop users.
Both users must be using the mobile client, and they must enable an option called "secret chat". Then the DMs are encrypted end-to-end.
It's ONLY available to mobile users. Not web or desktop users.
There is no easy way to delete all of your messages in a group chat, if you wish to do so.
You need to manually select each individual message (you can shift or control select multiple, up to 100 at a time) and delete them.
This is a nightmare in an emergency situation.
You need to manually select each individual message (you can shift or control select multiple, up to 100 at a time) and delete them.
This is a nightmare in an emergency situation.
Telegram has for some time now been censoring certain channels (and perhaps users, not sure) on the iOS (and possibly Android) client.
They agreed to censor "hate content" in that manner in exchange for remaining on the Apple store.
They agreed to censor "hate content" in that manner in exchange for remaining on the Apple store.
The fact they're willing to censor content at the behest of globohomo-tech indicates they're willing to play ball with our enemies in exchange for market access.
It's plausible that they have agreed to other things as well, which perhaps leverage the privacy issues outlined.
It's plausible that they have agreed to other things as well, which perhaps leverage the privacy issues outlined.
There is another disturbing trend on Telegram: Owners of group chats giving bots access to their channels in order to add moderation or novelty functionality.
This is a major privacy issue.
Often the bots need to record the entire chat history and upload to a server to work.
This is a major privacy issue.
Often the bots need to record the entire chat history and upload to a server to work.
