[palmfacehn]

I always found it strange that I needed to:

1) Provide a phone number

2) Install a mobile app

3) Activate Google Play Services

...All to create an account for this "private" messaging service. After which I needed to disable location sharing and public display of a phone number I used. A recent change now gives the country of the sim I used when registering if I DM someone new.

Other than that, his message does speak to valid concerns. However, I'm not sure why Telegram needed so much personal data for sending private messages.

[rchaud]

The phone number requirement can be circumvented by paying with crypto. At least it could back when I tried it in 2020.

[protimewaster]

Do you mean just buying a phone number with crypto or is there an option to just pay Telegram in lieu of using a phone number?