Signal is testing a major privacy feature: You can create a Signal account without a phone number. The new numberless registration uses an Account ID and Account Key, with an optional username. There’s a small catch: it requires a one time fee of around $3 to help prevent spam. The payment isn’t directly linked to your Signal account. Signal says it uses the same zero knowledge proofs as its donation system to ensure there’s no link between the payment and the account. For now, the only payment method is Google Play, which requires Google Play Services. Signal says it plans to add other payment methods in the future. A pretty significant step for privacy, even if the current implementation still has a Google dependency. Would you use Signal without a phone number? #Signal# #Privacy# #OpenSource# #DeGoogle#

First known US case: American charged for using a “duress” password Samuel Tunick, an Atlanta resident, is being prosecuted for allegedly giving border agents a passcode that wiped his phone. The feature comes from GrapheneOS, a privacy-focused Android OS. Entering the duress code triggers a full factory reset. This is believed to be the first time federal prosecutors have brought such charges. The incident happened in January 2025 at Atlanta airport. Agents demanded access to his phone without a warrant, saying he hadn’t yet officially entered the US. When they entered the code, the phone wiped itself. Tunick has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers argue the seizure was unlawful and that agents were investigating his activism against “Cop City.” The case raises big questions about digital rights at the US border. What do you think? Article: #Privacy# #GrapheneOS# #DigitalRights#