Can someone explain what exactly is private and secure about Telegram?

[Darth Weebrious]

The app is to be the go-to for illegal activities (Terrorgram, illegal porn and drug dealers for example), but it requires you to provide a phone number during registration?
How is it private if you're forced to give away your phone number, and they ban you if you use a temporary or virtual one?
IS YOUR PHONE NUMBER VISIBLE TO OTHERS WHEN YOU JOIN A CHANNEL?

 

[Starfish.Belgrade]

 

[ilieknothing]

Your phone number isn’t visible to others unless they have you saved as a contact

 

[Fevet]

Your phone number isn’t visible to others unless they have you saved as a contact

That can't possibly be the sole reason

 

[Karakol96]

 

[zerozerozero]

 

[slavcel11]

it's just marketing, telegram even tips you off to russian glowniggers, i imagine it is affiliated with similar structures in other countries as well

 

[Darth Weebrious]

Your phone number isn’t visible to others unless they have you saved as a contact

Can they see it if they add you as an in-app friend or if they have your number saved locally on their phone?

 

[Animecel2D]

i can privately gather all your personal info and store it in a secure location

 

[proudweeb2]

The app is to be the go-to for illegal activities (Terrorgram, illegal porn and drug dealers for example), but it requires you to provide a phone number during registration?
How is it private if you're forced to give away your phone number, and they ban you if you use a temporary or virtual one?
IS YOUR PHONE NUMBER VISIBLE TO OTHERS WHEN YOU JOIN A CHANNEL?

I will never join a site that demands my phone number, it's a jewish scam

 

[Darth Weebrious]

it's just marketing, telegram even tips you off to russian glowniggers, i imagine it is affiliated with similar structures in other countries as well

I figured, at least Discord is upfront about their spyware.

 

[Darth Weebrious]

I will never join a site that demands my phone number, it's a jewish scam

 

[Evil Pigeonn]

illegal porn

Please add me

 

[KING NOTHING]

Please add me

 

[ilieknothing]

Can they see it if they add you as an in-app friend or if they have your number saved locally on their phone?

No, only on the phone

 

[Darth Weebrious]

240p:

1080p:

 

[Stupid Clown]

I stopped using it. The UI is ugly and there's barely anyone on there.

 

[Emba]

Contact list too!

So not only do you rat yourself out, you rat out everyone else you know too.

 

[GloomLipscel]

The app is to be the go-to for illegal activities (Terrorgram, illegal porn and drug dealers for example), but it requires you to provide a phone number during registration?
How is it private if you're forced to give away your phone number, and they ban you if you use a temporary or virtual one?
IS YOUR PHONE NUMBER VISIBLE TO OTHERS WHEN YOU JOIN A CHANNEL?

Once it required you to use phone to verify it became sus

 

[incelerated]

It's run by KGB instead of CIA