Signal is working on a way to sign up without a phone number. The feature has not yet been officially confirmed, and it is not yet known whether it will be available to all users or in what form.
I think you’re jumping the gun a bit. They’re just saying that requiring a phone number added a barrier against spammers and they want to be sure this change doesn’t open the flood gates.
From the article:
"We gotta figure out some way to induce a cost for signing up without a phone number”, Kret said.
It’s unclear whether this means that registration without a phone number will become a paid feature.
However, “cost” does not necessarily mean a monetary fee; it could also refer to another barrier designed to prevent abuse.
Sooo instead you will be required to pay by card and thus have your identity proven by financial institutions behind? Big ooof.
I think you’re jumping the gun a bit. They’re just saying that requiring a phone number added a barrier against spammers and they want to be sure this change doesn’t open the flood gates.
From the article:
Even if it was a card, privacy.com for the win as it allows for any address and name to be used with their debit cards!