Signal data collection: Difference between revisions

Line 35:

It resulted in a lot of confusion for users, many of whom only learned about this feature when they were prompted to create a PIN. There were many social media posts expressing confusion over what the feature was and what it was doing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What contact info does the Signal PIN functionality actually save? |url=https://community.signalusers.org/t/what-contact-info-does-the-signal-pin-functionality-actually-save/16854}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Following user backlash, Signal lowers one of its drastic PIN measures |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/05/29/many-signal-users-arent-happy-with-new-pin-requirements/}}</ref> <ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=What exactly is Signal protecting with the mandatory PIN? |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/signal/comments/hymlfd/what_exactly_is_signal_protecting_with_the/}}</ref> Even years after the change was made, some Signal users were/are still unsure about what data Signal collects or were/are convinced that Signal doesn't collect any data at all.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What info does Signal store about it's user? |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/signal/comments/q5tlg1/what_info_does_signal_store_about_its_user/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011111619/https://old.reddit.com/r/signal/comments/q5tlg1/what_info_does_signal_store_about_its_user/ |archive-date=11 Oct 2021 |access-date=6 Mar 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=About data collection and data delivery |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/signal/comments/1id3xu8/about_data_collection_and_data_delivery/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250201072439/https://old.reddit.com/r/signal/comments/1id3xu8/about_data_collection_and_data_delivery/?ref=readnext |archive-date=1 Feb 2025 |access-date=6 Mar 2025}}</ref>

Some users are still confused by the situation regarding data collection, as Signal's own website to date states that they do not collect the message information they are collecting. The first line of their "Terms & Privacy Policy" page reads: "Signal is designed to never collect or store any sensitive information". This statement highlights the discrepancy between Signal's ~~commission~~ and their exhibited data practices. This may be confusing to some users because relevant evidence currently contradicts the platform's otherwise clear data collection policies. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Signal Terms & Privacy Policy |url=https://signal.org/legal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250302122622/https://signal.org/legal/ |archive-date=2 Mar 2025 |access-date=6 Mar 2025}}</ref>

Some users are still confused by the situation regarding data collection, as Signal's own website to date states that they do not collect the message information they are collecting. The first line of their "Terms & Privacy Policy" page reads: "Signal is designed to never collect or store any sensitive information". This statement highlights the discrepancy between Signal's communicated mission and their exhibited data practices. This may be confusing to some users because relevant evidence currently contradicts the platform's otherwise clear data collection policies. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Signal Terms & Privacy Policy |url=https://signal.org/legal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250302122622/https://signal.org/legal/ |archive-date=2 Mar 2025 |access-date=6 Mar 2025}}</ref>

This message is repeated on their support page under the heading: How do I know my communication is private?<ref>{{Cite web |title=How do I know my communication is private? |url=https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007318911-How-do-I-know-my-communication-is-private |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214030028/https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007318911-How-do-I-know-my-communication-is-private |archive-date=14 Feb 2025 |access-date=6 Mar 2025}}</ref> This may confuse some people into believing that their messages and data have no backups on external servers.

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 It resulted in a lot of confusion for users, many of whom only learned about this feature when they were prompted to create a PIN. There were many social media posts expressing confusion over what the feature was and what it was doing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What contact info does the Signal PIN functionality actually save? |url=https://community.signalusers.org/t/what-contact-info-does-the-signal-pin-functionality-actually-save/16854}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Following user backlash, Signal lowers one of its drastic PIN measures |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/05/29/many-signal-users-arent-happy-with-new-pin-requirements/}}</ref> <ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=What exactly is Signal protecting with the mandatory PIN? |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/signal/comments/hymlfd/what_exactly_is_signal_protecting_with_the/}}</ref> Even years after the change was made, some Signal users were/are still unsure about what data Signal collects or were/are convinced that Signal doesn't collect any data at all.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What info does Signal store about it's user? |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/signal/comments/q5tlg1/what_info_does_signal_store_about_its_user/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011111619/https://old.reddit.com/r/signal/comments/q5tlg1/what_info_does_signal_store_about_its_user/ |archive-date=11 Oct 2021 |access-date=6 Mar 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=About data collection and data delivery |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/signal/comments/1id3xu8/about_data_collection_and_data_delivery/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250201072439/https://old.reddit.com/r/signal/comments/1id3xu8/about_data_collection_and_data_delivery/?ref=readnext |archive-date=1 Feb 2025 |access-date=6 Mar 2025}}</ref>
-Some users are still confused by the situation regarding data collection, as Signal's own website to date states that they do not collect the message information they are collecting. The first line of their "Terms & Privacy Policy" page reads: "Signal is designed to never collect or store any sensitive information". This statement highlights the discrepancy between Signal's commission and their exhibited data practices. This may be confusing to some users because relevant evidence currently contradicts the platform's otherwise clear data collection policies. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Signal Terms & Privacy Policy |url=https://signal.org/legal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250302122622/https://signal.org/legal/ |archive-date=2 Mar 2025 |access-date=6 Mar 2025}}</ref>
+Some users are still confused by the situation regarding data collection, as Signal's own website to date states that they do not collect the message information they are collecting. The first line of their "Terms & Privacy Policy" page reads: "Signal is designed to never collect or store any sensitive information". This statement highlights the discrepancy between Signal's communicated mission and their exhibited data practices. This may be confusing to some users because relevant evidence currently contradicts the platform's otherwise clear data collection policies. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Signal Terms & Privacy Policy |url=https://signal.org/legal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250302122622/https://signal.org/legal/ |archive-date=2 Mar 2025 |access-date=6 Mar 2025}}</ref>
 This message is repeated on their support page under the heading: How do I know my communication is private?<ref>{{Cite web |title=How do I know my communication is private? |url=https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007318911-How-do-I-know-my-communication-is-private |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214030028/https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007318911-How-do-I-know-my-communication-is-private |archive-date=14 Feb 2025 |access-date=6 Mar 2025}}</ref> This may confuse some people into believing that their messages and data have no backups on external servers.