Because of the ongoing fucktastrophe, the cries of "Use SIGNAL!" are constant and unavoidable. And I get it, it may be the least-bad option in a sea of terrible options. If, that is, you choose to ignore the advice of "don't use your phone for that shit" (the Stringer Bell Rule). But out of curiosity, because I haven't been keeping up, has the Signal Corporation addressed: The fact that they ...
Unless Signal’s policies recently changed, Molly is not interoperable, since Signal does not allow third-party clients to use their servers/network. That would make point 2 correct.
If that policy has changed, then someone please link the announcement so I can update my notes.
They’ve been allowing Molly to continue to function for multiple years. Notably, from Molly’s readme:
Molly connects to Signal’s servers, so you can chat with your Signal contacts seamlessly.
I looked over the terms of service linked there and don’t see anything specifically calling out third party clients. Is that elsewhere in another terms page somewhere or is it just not being specifically mentioned?
It was a few years ago when I read Signal’s statement about this, so I’m afraid I don’t have a link for you.
I believe you when you say Molly functions, but it’s important to note that without Signal’s blessing, anyone using Molly can be locked out of the network (and their chats and contacts) at any moment. It’s not the same as official interoperability.
I wonder if the Digital Markets Act will eventually force it.
Absolutely, and I’m not trying to say they don’t own their infra or have the ability to cut off the Molly users. Luckily, if that were to happen, you could use the automated backups to restore back into Signal, since they’re functionally the same.
Regardless, both apps have reproducible builds. It’s the infra that isn’t reproducible.
Unless Signal’s policies recently changed, Molly is not interoperable, since Signal does not allow third-party clients to use their servers/network. That would make point 2 correct.
If that policy has changed, then someone please link the announcement so I can update my notes.
They’ve been allowing Molly to continue to function for multiple years. Notably, from Molly’s readme:
I looked over the terms of service linked there and don’t see anything specifically calling out third party clients. Is that elsewhere in another terms page somewhere or is it just not being specifically mentioned?
It was a few years ago when I read Signal’s statement about this, so I’m afraid I don’t have a link for you.
I believe you when you say Molly functions, but it’s important to note that without Signal’s blessing, anyone using Molly can be locked out of the network (and their chats and contacts) at any moment. It’s not the same as official interoperability.
I wonder if the Digital Markets Act will eventually force it.
Absolutely, and I’m not trying to say they don’t own their infra or have the ability to cut off the Molly users. Luckily, if that were to happen, you could use the automated backups to restore back into Signal, since they’re functionally the same.
Regardless, both apps have reproducible builds. It’s the infra that isn’t reproducible.