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Comment by crystaln | Hacker News Reader

Apple has implented a solution with iMessage, albeit a proprietary one only for iOS communications.

If Google prioritized the privacy of users thet would build a similar product as the default Android messaging service, hopefully as an open platform.

I have been very reluctant to switch to Android for precisely this reason. It represents a lack of concern for user privacy.

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It is easy is to send an insecure message via iMessage. When the app will fallback to SMS, there isn't any clear indication that this is less secure. Sure you get the green vs blue bubbles, but security isn't exactly pointed out.

Sure it's not perfect. The point is a default that respects and enforces privacy. It is night and day from Android.

I wish Apple would open the protocol.

SMS fallback can be easily disabled.

And secure chat applications can be easily installed. The whole kerfuffle here is about defaults.

I'd say signal is already a better imessage. The use of phone numbers for linking contacts isn't great; but it's workable as a "better sms". And I prefer it to relying on solo'ed Google contacts.

I still want something that federated, secure(able) and easy to self-host. But I really don't see the need for another iMessage.

The need is for defaults. I want everyone using end to end encryption by default. If Signal became the default, great.

As long as imessage isn't generally available, it isn't a viable "default".

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