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How can the Signal app "exit the UK market"? Can't people just use the app anyway?

leesalminen 3y ago
There's a couple ways: - Signal could just ban all UK IP addresses from accessing its messaging servers. Your encrypted messages still pass through servers controlled by Signal, Inc. - UK government could require ISPs to deny access to Signal's messaging servers. Of course, one could just use a VPN, set up a VM in a third country and run a Signal Proxy Server, etc. It was hard enough getting family/friends to download/use Signal, as its UX is sub-par compared to alternatives. If you start telling them they have to use a VPN, or run a server, etc, that will kill the network effect in UK.
- immibis 3y ago
  Signal gets banned from the Google and Apple stores for UK users
- godelski 3y ago
  I've also tried to urge the Signal community to develop things like a mesh networking because it can really help prevent such actions. I saw another user suggest an airdrop like functionality as a means to make the mesh networking features "fun" or at least of high value to users. I've given up on that community though and Signal just moves too slow. Moxie argued that they should maintain control because the ecosystem is moving but I'm pretty confident the ecosystem is moving a hell of a lot faster than they are. Realistically it looks like Apple is starting to become a better privacy app, except it isn't cross platform and likely never will be.
westernpopular 3y ago
Even just removing it from that country's app store would mean 99% of people who might have used it otherwise won't use it. It doesn't need to be Impossible for the policy to be successful.
rstuart4133 3y ago
Yeah, the "Exit the market" comment had me scratching my head. I may not be up on how Signal operates now, as I stopped using Signal as my default instant messaging app when they dropped SMS. I maybe use it to send a message every other month now. However, when I was using it they didn't sell anything. Not even ads. How do you participate in a market if you aren't a buyer or seller? If they are in a market the UK can't threaten them with dollars, and given they aren't based in the UK why do they care what ideas the UK passes? It would have been nice the if she said what Signal would do if the UK passed the law, but as it stands I don't have a clue what she was on about.

There's a couple ways: - Signal could just ban all UK IP addresses from accessing its messaging servers. Your encrypted messages still pass through servers controlled by Signal, Inc. - UK government could require ISPs to deny access to Signal's messaging servers. Of course, one could just use a VPN, set up a VM in a third country and run a Signal Proxy Server, etc. It was hard enough getting family/friends to download/use Signal, as its UX is sub-par compared to alternatives. If you start telling them they have to use a VPN, or run a server, etc, that will kill the network effect in UK.

immibis 3y ago
Signal gets banned from the Google and Apple stores for UK users
godelski 3y ago
I've also tried to urge the Signal community to develop things like a mesh networking because it can really help prevent such actions. I saw another user suggest an airdrop like functionality as a means to make the mesh networking features "fun" or at least of high value to users. I've given up on that community though and Signal just moves too slow. Moxie argued that they should maintain control because the ecosystem is moving but I'm pretty confident the ecosystem is moving a hell of a lot faster than they are. Realistically it looks like Apple is starting to become a better privacy app, except it isn't cross platform and likely never will be.

westernpopular 3y ago

Even just removing it from that country's app store would mean 99% of people who might have used it otherwise won't use it. It doesn't need to be Impossible for the policy to be successful.

rstuart4133 3y ago

Yeah, the "Exit the market" comment had me scratching my head. I may not be up on how Signal operates now, as I stopped using Signal as my default instant messaging app when they dropped SMS. I maybe use it to send a message every other month now. However, when I was using it they didn't sell anything. Not even ads. How do you participate in a market if you aren't a buyer or seller? If they are in a market the UK can't threaten them with dollars, and given they aren't based in the UK why do they care what ideas the UK passes? It would have been nice the if she said what Signal would do if the UK passed the law, but as it stands I don't have a clue what she was on about.