💾 Archived View for portugalfreedomcells.cyou › whynottelegramEN.gmi captured on 2021-12-03 at 14:04:38. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content

More Information

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

[‡ logo] >>

home
intro
why not telegram
Begin with matrix
docs
PT
EN

[5] why not telegram

[6] Begin with matrix

Why not Telegram?

Summarizing

Because it is as bad as WhatsApp and Facebook. It presents a false promise of encryption. See the following screenshot where they monitor group messages and can go as far as censoring them. Conclusion: move on to Element.

Hmm, I need more information

More evidence that Telegram uses your data without your consent:

https://pocketnow.com/stop-being-naive-when-it-comes-to-things-like-whatsapp-telegram-signal-etc

It is centralized. All your data (messages, profile information) is stored on Telegram servers and can be used for all sorts of purposes without you knowing it. They are actively mining the data in messages for censorship, so this is a red line we cannot cross. Enough is enough, we have put too much at risk, let's take control of our data.

Why Matrix / Element?

Summarizing

It's like the kryptonite of censorship. Think of it as P2P (peer-to-peer), but instead of sharing movies and songs, you share messages. Each person owns their messages and shares them only with whom they want. The data is located on all participating servers and communicates through end-to-end encrypted messages (E2EE) with the other people on other servers. The message is only decrypted when the user opens it, and only on their verified devices. If it is an encrypted chat, the server on which it is registered cannot even read your messages, only you can. True freedom. And it's easier to set up than you might think.

Hmm, I need more information

Q- It sounds like a bummer.
A- It's as easy as signing up for Telegram.
Q- Will I lose access to Telegram?
A- No. From the Matrix you can access Telegram bridged rooms. This is possible, but not recommended because that conversation, once it goes to Telegram, is no longer secure. Also, Telegram bridged rooms cannot currently be encrypted.
Q- None of my friends are there.
A- It's the chicken and egg problem. We guarantee you'll meet more people on Matrix than on Telegram within six months. It's the future of private conversations. Encourage everyone you communicate with to join, and continue to communicate with them only through Matrix.
Q- Why have Matrix and Element? It seems complicated.
A- Element is just the phone/PC application (sometimes called "customer implementation" by the geeks). It's developed by a bunch of cool people and has new features all the time. It's attractive and easy to use, just like WhatsApp/Telegram, etc. However, when you create an account on these platforms, all your data is signed, however the same is not true for Matrix/Element. To create an account you simply choose a username, no phone number or other personal details are required (it is recommended that you provide an email address to help with password recovery). Your account will then reside on a Matrix server and that's where your data lives, encrypted with your master key. Period. If you were paranoid you could even create your own server and then only you would have your data. Then use that account to log into Element. Simple... And it is even simpler than it sounds.
Q- But it is only federated, not decentralized!
A- Yes, that is a valid argument. Federation means that people install their own servers that will participate in the network of other federated servers, and so it's a minor form of decentralization. The problem with true decentralization is that it's hard to achieve it on a large scale right now. Think about this: can you run a bitcoin wallet constantly on your phone with the entire blockchain (currently ~320GB and growing)? Can you afford the cost of data syncing on your cell phone plan, or draining your battery? That said, of course we encourage truly decentralized technologies, but in our eyes they are not there yet. On the other hand, the Matrix guys are already planning Matrix clients to work as federated micro-servers.