Terms of Service for Telegram Peer-to-Peer Login Program
telegram.org
Users sign up and log in to Telegram by receiving a verification code (“OTP”) that is sent via SMS. These messages are sent…

What do you think of this from privacy POV?

  • jet@hackertalks.comEnglish
    0·
    8 months ago

    Crazy. Become a telegram sms relay… Doesn’t seem like a great idea for the user.

    • Clot@lemm.eeOP
      01·
      8 months ago

      They are rewarding you with premium (i.e. some extra features in the app) for relaying sms and exposing your phonenumber to strangers ig?

      • jet@hackertalks.comEnglish
        0·
        8 months ago

        For now… Giving this capability to a app seems foolish.

        If you value premium enough, I’m sure lots of people will agree to it.

        • Clot@lemm.eeOP
          1·
          8 months ago

          I think if its opt-in, then kinda fine…, else it’s a nightmare.

        • riccardo@lemmy.ml
          1·
          8 months ago

          You can decide to send sms codes only within your country. You decide whether the tradeoff between costs, privacy and features is worth it. Sending 150 sms a month (or a magnitude more) would cost me 0 €. I find some of the premium features worth paying for. But I would never relay OTP codes for telegram

  • LWD@lemm.ee
    0·
    8 months ago

    Can somebody explain in simple terms with this is even supposed to do? Do you end up sending an SMS message on Telegram’s behalf to random phone numbers that request it?

    I’m pretty sure this practice, no matter how lightweight it might be, would be considered against many carriers’ TOS. And I wasn’t aware Android now allowed people to send text messages in apps besides the default one, suppressing that ability was considered a huge deal a while back.

    • umami_wasabi@lemmy.ml
      1·
      8 months ago

      For whatever reason, ppl need SMS OTP. While Telegram is using SMS operators (like Twilio), it can’t covers all users globally (which the truth is more about cost and regulations), thus this program is born to cover (bypass) it.

      It uses your number to sent the OTP code to random numbers on Telegram behalf, up to 150 per month including international SMS, where you bear the cost and aknowledging your number will be seen by who recieve it. In return, if your monthly send SMS reaches the quota, Telegram will reward you with a monthly Telegram Premium Subscription (which cost almost nothing to them).

      What a joke program.

      Edit: express in more clarity (they -> Telegram)

      • Cheradenine@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        8 months ago

        Isn’t that an inherent fault of Telegram though?

        I use SimpleX, and unless I join one of the large discussion groups there cannot be any spam. You cannot just join anything except open groups. If you spam you get booted by whoever started the group.