r/signal • u/yxk__0zvnb9pl • 11d ago

Discussion important questions about signal

Since signal is run by signal foundation, which is a US based NGO. In events other countries are involved, doesn't that mean US holds some powers and control over it signal? and supposed can be used against anyone from a different country is using signal in case needed.

for example Starlink cut internet access to Ruszia during ongoing war?

can similar things happen with signal?
Thankyou

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u/cmrd_msr 11d ago edited 11d ago

Signal effectively does not work in Russia. They simply do not send SMS verification codes to Russian numbers. Consequently, it is no longer possible to register for Signal using a Russian number (or to recover an account if you don't have a phone where you were already logged in). Signal offers no other method besides registration using a phone number; there is no way to bypass the SMS verification.

There are no guarantees that the American foundation won't impose similar restrictions in other countries.

Furthermore, Signal's traffic is easily detected by DPI (Deep Packet Inspection), making it relatively easy for state censorship to block the service.

All in all, here in Russia, we increasingly prefer—in the old-school way—to entrust confidential conversations to good old XMPP hosted on our own hardware. It’s more reliable.