You currently need a phone number to sign up for Telegram. Add an option to sign up using an email address or another method, like some messengers do (e.g., Wire, Matrix, Threema, Session).
Potential spam issues could be mitigated by:
Only allowing addresses from major email providers at first and slowly expanding reach if it's manageable.
Automatically limiting such accounts from contacting strangers until their perform some additional actions.
Allowing group admins to prevent such accounts from posting by default.
Use Cases
Avoiding an identifier tied to your identity, hiding identity from governments or people who know your number.
Workaround
Use a virtual phone number.
Warning: Do NOT use temporary numbers to connect to your account, as you may lose access to your account when you lose access to the number.
ah yes. force people who dont want to give the companies that screwed them out of certain services in rural areas money or pay telegram money. im sure bell and rogers monopolies already have enough money. they dont need a billionaire enabler.
Crypto can be tracked too and sometimes they can be too difficult/expensive to obtain. In any case even if it won't resolve all the problems related to crypto there are a few one, just like Monero, that are focused on privacy and security (and in that case Telegram should incentives them).
> Only allowing addresses from major email providers
But major email providers tend to require a phone number. No restrictions on email providers should be held.
Ludovico
Any update? I've seen that now the "anonymous number" in ton are almost impossible to buy for activist especially in russia. They cost hundreds of dollars...
Ludovico
If you are still interested in the feature and you're following this post, comment. It's the only way to make this reach the telegram team and help activists...
Nate Reinar Windwood
This would be amazing! The phone number ties you to a specific country and its government — not just in terms of privacy, but also reliability. Although even email makes your account dependent on another (antiquated) service. The best option would be: if you have a username, you can enable a simple username & password login.
And to defend against spammers, just make this option paid, $5 or something. It won’t be much for regular users but will deter big botnets, since they have to pay for every account.
N
Nahambot
How can i log in my telegram account using gmail account because my phone number was disabled
Log in here to report bugs or suggest features. Please enter your phone number in the international format and we will send a confirmation message to your account via Telegram.
In any case even if it won't resolve all the problems related to crypto there are a few one, just like Monero, that are focused on privacy and security (and in that case Telegram should incentives them).
IDENA Proof-of-Person Blockchain as auth method... #22195
But major email providers tend to require a phone number.
No restrictions on email providers should be held.
And to defend against spammers, just make this option paid, $5 or something. It won’t be much for regular users but will deter big botnets, since they have to pay for every account.
even more reasons to add non sms registration methods, I would recommend idena