On Tue, Nov 15, 2016 at 12:48 PM, David Tulloh <david@tulloh.id.au> wrote:

No, each client communicates with an Open Whisper server. The call initiation data is all encrypted.

Open Whisper knows who is talking to who, but doesn't record it, there have been US court proceedings to back that up. Your telco knows that you are using Signal and when, but nothing further.

Hi David, that is true. I should have double-checked and re-read instead of relying on my faulty memory. Sorry about it. What I do not like, though, is the centralized approach. As soon as you take that one down, it is gone. Worse if you can compromise it (and the users still trust it) Besides, it is only affecting parts of your communication. I would prefer an approach which is holistic (protecting all data) and truly decentralized. Privacy of communication should be the normal, not the exception. E.g. the German constitution has an Article 10: Privacy of correspondence, posts and telecommunications. (1) The privacy of correspondence, posts and telecommunications shall be inviolable. (https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_gg/englisch_gg.html#p0057) These days, it is practically gone, and it starts with the new "normal" of OS providers to send all kind of data to their servers (Microsoft, Apple, Google) The only right people get furious about seems to be an outdated article of an ancient American constitution so that people keep shooting each other. Regards Peter