For added context, a major user of Signal is the CAF. They're literally required to have it on their phones, it's a primary method of distributing critical information. Signal leaving Canada would be a very big deal.

[–] nik282000@lemmy.ca 20 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Good, maybe it will highlight the myopic decision making of Canada's leaders.

[–] Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works 18 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Maybe before it comes to that we can contact our reps and tell them to put a stop to this stupidity.

[–] redsand@infosec.pub 5 points 1 day ago

Call them out on wanting to be the 51st state. This bullshit is about sigint that the US wants to run through "AI"(grok)

[–] ITGuyLevi@programming.dev 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That makes it even funnier that they want a backdoor added to it... Don't they realize that a government mandated backdoor is still a backdoor anyone can use?

[–] Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 day ago

Yeah, this is exactly Signal's objection; it makes the product inherently less secure. That's a really bad idea under any circumstances, but doubly so for a product that is used for secure government communication.

[–] yardy_sardley@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Kinda sad how our armed forced are that dependent on US tech. Like yeah it's E2EE, but it gives the US the ability to brick our communications if they really want to.

Surely the CAF has the resources to spin up their own secure xmpp service or something.

[–] Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Do they have the resources? Sure. But that would be fiscally irresponsible. Why would they try to replicate proven tech that works well and offers everything they need? Signal is available, accessible, and easy to use.

I also should clarify that when I say it's a primary method, that does mean one of many. We have fallbacks. Losing access to Signal wouldn't cripple us, but it would be an incredibly stupid self-inflicted injury. Having easy and accessible means of secure communications is important because it prevents people from resorting to insecure means. People are lazy and the best security is always the security that people least mind using. That's why Signal matters. Not because wec somehow wouldn't be able to hold secure communications without it. I apologize if my previous comment was misleading on this.