Correct. It then goes on to - by default at least - upload everyones messages unencrypted to Google Cloud.
> the key difference to Telegram is it requires a phone number to use which instantly reveals your real identity to any snoop, snitch or government mole.
I usually defend Telegram but here I think you are wrong. Telegram also requires a phone number to sign up.
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2002.04609.pdf
https://github.com/Loki-project
Seems to somehow be associated with the working group for Loki cryptocurrency, but not using blockchain to store messages or message contents, per FAQ.
https://docs.loki.network/LokiServices/Messenger/Session/
LokiNet reminds me of a self-funding P2P decentralized anonymous analog with massively more functionality to Google Jigsaw[1] project called Outline[2], which runs shadowsocks[3] on Digital Ocean droplets or your own Linux infra.
[1] Jigsaw, formerly Google Ideas: https://jigsaw.google.com
[2] Outline: https://getoutline.org
[3] Shadowsocks: https://shadowsocks.org
Some excerpts:
> TL;DR edition: an onion router with a tun interface for transporting ip packets anonymously between you and the internet and internally inside itself to other users.
> "What if I2P was made in the current year (2018)? What would be different?"
> In short we want to permit both anonymous exit and entry network level traffic between LLARP [aka LokiNet] enabled networks and the internet.
> In short, I want to take the "best parts" from Tor and I2P and make a new protocol suite.