> To have an email, you still need a mobile phone number to register for gmail (the most popular choice). > but then you again can also get IDs and fake passpo

> To have an email, you still need a mobile phone number to register for gmail (the most popular choice). > but then you again can also get IDs and fake passports easily in China if you want. I agree to a certain extent that your passport is indirectly linked to these online services. Where I don't agree is that you can still use an email service that doesn't require you to provide your phone numbers and you can use it to sign up for Facebook (not a legal offence, there is still a way to access the service). Use of fake passports is a criminal offence (And there isn't a viable alternative to use the service without committing a criminal offence).