I tested out revolt and element. Out of the two element seems to be the most well rounded. What do you people use to replace discord to protect your privacy?
Element is not a solution, it is a client. Matrix is the protocol. Discord happens to provide both in a spectacularly privacy disrespecting way imo.
I know of two chat protocols which are quite popular: matrix and xmpp. Matrix seems to be the more flashy but also more energy consuming part. Xmpp is very old and apparently has been EEEd by google at some point which is the whole reason matrix exists imo.
As clients go, you can use one of dozens of them, each different. Element (and element x) are made by people who also are involved with matrix but run a for profit company as well so beware. They also make contributors sign away their rights if they ever wanted to take element closed source which is a red flag.
I mostly use fluffychat which isnt perfect but works very well imo. I also have bridges on my matrix server (i use synapse) which connect whatsapp, signal and discord for the folks who dont want to switch over but want to talk to me. This makes is convenient for me and I still have encryption and control over my data in the pure matrix chats.
I cant comment on running xmpp bc no experience but reports say its very fast. Running your own matrix server or using a known host means you have no ads, no tracking, e2ee and you will likely always know where your data goes.
Thanks for reading and have a good one.
use xmpp
How do we know that these solutions are more private than Discord?
Even if open source, how do we know the compiled version wasn’t altered?
You can always compile from scratch, compare the checksums or use the version you compiled. In projects this large people usually do this, and there’s a certain level of trust that these checks have been performed.
Yup. If you’re paranoid, you can self-host and watch network traffic to ensure things are encrypted when they’re supposed to be.
Sure but how do you know those encrypted requests don’t contain personal or unexpected information?
Set up two clients and send data between them. You can have it log out exactly what data is being sent since the whole thing is FOSS.
Worth checking out for more privacy :
As much as I appreciate what SimpleX is doing, it’s a massive memory hog on Android - 120mb all the time.
I do look forward to seeing it mature though, I think that will improve, along with device linking.
Oh no ! In the age where everyone and their cat has atleast 32 gigs simplex is using my 120 mb whatever shall we do ?faints
Yeah I’m also not getting it tbh, got shit load of RAM that’s unused anyways
There is guilded.gg as well but I don’t know if it’s better for privacy.
Guilded is owned by Roblox Corporation last I checked, a company that promotes getting children addicted to stock market gambling, taking advantage of young child developers, and a platform that doesn’t respect your privacy in the slightest, asking for ID just to use voice chat (because of their major pedo problem).
So I probably wouldn’t use Guilded
And Roblox Corporation is owned by Tencent Holdings which also owns Discord.
