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Twitter forces all new users to enter a valid phone number

sucky.ninja

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Re: Twitter forces all new users to enter a valid phone number

#201

Post by phs318u »

apo wrote: post #86

Linking pseudonyms from two different networks (in this case, Twitter and the phone system) together is a classic and serious privacy leak. It's far from clear exactly what information Twitter, in its longtime effort to combat spam, has already collected on its users. Throwing a phone number into the mix expands to range of activities that can be unambiguously tied to the same individual. Given that Twitter certainly…

At the risk of going off topic (and without responding to the issue of Twitter requiring real phone numbers), I want to make a point regarding your last sentence. If a post is somehow sufficient to (potentially) warrant a prison sentence (eg for leaking state secrets or inciting terrorist acts), then I would suggest the amount of time that has passed is irrelevant (within jurisdictional bounds). If a crime has been committed, responding to that within the statue of limitations is not an issue of civil liberties. Getting away with a crime (something worthy of s prison sentence) is not a civil liberty anyone enjoys.

Re: Twitter forces all new users to enter a valid phone number

#203

Post by eeeeeeeeeeeee »

H1Supreme wrote: post #132
packet_nerd wrote: post #118

My wife and I cancelled our phone services a while back to save money since we rarely if ever have to call anyone and just use messaging to keep in touch with each other and friends. What are people like us supposed to do? I do have a Google voice number, but I noticed one or two places recently that won't accept that anymore.

> I do have a Google voice number, but I noticed one or two places recently that won't accept that anymore. Mind sharing where? I've use my Google Voice number exclusively for 6 or 7 years now. Can't say I've ever ran into such a thing.

It’s happened to me a few times with my Gvoice number. Which is really annoying because this is why I use it.

It usually gives no specific information about why it failed, but then I use my main mobile number and it works fine.

Re: Twitter forces all new users to enter a valid phone number

#204

Post by nemothekid »

syshum wrote: post #179
anigbrowl wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Twitter knows what IP you connect from, which might easily be through a VPN. The flip side of low-friction authentication is epidemic abuse by trolls, which arguably damages Twitter's brand. Unfortunately, most people simply don't understand the implications of any of this. Well, so you say.

>> epidemic abuse by trolls, I am soo tried of hearing this excuse for mass censorship First of it MASSIVELY over used to the point where people call anyone that disagrees with them "a troll" or a bot. Twitter is hurting their own brand by their obvious political bias and selective enforcement of rules largely dependent on outrage mobs to "report" rule violations. Like real names policies before it, these types of "v…

1. It’s very strange for someone to both claim that they never use Twitter and also claim “abuse” is an overblown excuse. Twitter is currently the model platform for large scale mob justice and harassment. 2. The “real name” policy is effective on Facebook for the type of abuse Twitter is trying to curtail. It would help if you explain why you feel the real name policy is ineffective. In any case, only Facebook (the product) actively enforces a real name policy.

Re: Twitter forces all new users to enter a valid phone number

#205

Post by zrm »

baroffoos wrote: post #181
packet_nerd wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There has got to be a better way to do online identity as a society! The most promising ideas I've heard about are WebAuthn and Estonia's digital identity system. How long is it going to take to get out of the dark ages and get this right? One thing I'm sure of, uploading a scan of my passport to every website is not an appealing thought. Besides the inconvenience, do I really want my passport spread around on dozens…

There isn't any good way to maintain perfect privacy while also rejecting bots/trolls with 20 accounts.

There is proof of stake. You stake some moderate amount ($25), refundable at any time but forfeit if you spam. For a non-spammer it effectively costs nothing but the spammer loses their stake for every spam someone reports, and every spam posted against the same stake can be disabled at once.

The requirement obviously being the ability to make small anonymous payments.

Re: Twitter forces all new users to enter a valid phone number

#206

Post by eeeeeeeeeeeee »

tyingq wrote: post #59

I don't use Twitter much, but every time I click on a Twitter link from my Android phone...it pops an error page. The page says either something about an error, or that I'm rate limited. A page refresh usually then works fine and displays the page. Is this related to similar attempts to block bots/spammers? Or maybe just something wrong on my end?

Ok it’s not just me. Twitter works fine on my desktop, but whenever I seem to use it on mobile I get the rate limited error. I swear it’s 70% of the time. Usually if I go back and try again or refresh it works the second time.

Always regular mobile Safari.

Re: Twitter forces all new users to enter a valid phone number

#207

Post by germainelol »

There may be negatives to this, but if you listen to any recent talks with Jack Dorsey, he is genuinely concerned about combating the amount of fake accounts on Twitter. Of course, it's both a moral issue and a business issue but that's beyond the point. If giving my phone number to Twitter means it can have an ever so slight positive impact on the amount of trolls and fake accounts on Twitter, then it's a good thing to me...

However, we have seen with Facebook that giving your phone number doesn't necessarily work in combating trolls, so I'd be interested in how exactly they will use it.

Re: Twitter forces all new users to enter a valid phone number

#208

Post by packet_nerd »

Carpetsmoker wrote: post #173
packet_nerd wrote: post #118

My wife and I cancelled our phone services a while back to save money since we rarely if ever have to call anyone and just use messaging to keep in touch with each other and friends. What are people like us supposed to do? I do have a Google voice number, but I noticed one or two places recently that won't accept that anymore.

I have a prepaid account, which is basically free after the initial investment, which is usually just a few €/$/£/etc. If you're careful enough it can also be reasonably anonymous.

> reasonably anonymous

The signup process has always been quite invasive for me. Is it possible get a phone in the states without handing over your SS, name, and DoB? I've never tried; what happens if you give bogus info?

Re: Twitter forces all new users to enter a valid phone number

#209

Post by acct1771 »

packet_nerd wrote: post #208
Carpetsmoker wrote: post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a prepaid account, which is basically free after the initial investment, which is usually just a few €/$/£/etc. If you're careful enough it can also be reasonably anonymous.

> reasonably anonymous The signup process has always been quite invasive for me. Is it possible get a phone in the states without handing over your SS, name, and DoB? I've never tried; what happens if you give bogus info?

Prepaid cards..?

Re: Twitter forces all new users to enter a valid phone number

#210

Post by reaperducer »

phs318u wrote: post #201
apo wrote: post #86

Linking pseudonyms from two different networks (in this case, Twitter and the phone system) together is a classic and serious privacy leak. It's far from clear exactly what information Twitter, in its longtime effort to combat spam, has already collected on its users. Throwing a phone number into the mix expands to range of activities that can be unambiguously tied to the same individual. Given that Twitter certainly…

At the risk of going off topic (and without responding to the issue of Twitter requiring real phone numbers), I want to make a point regarding your last sentence. If a post is somehow sufficient to (potentially) warrant a prison sentence (eg for leaking state secrets or inciting terrorist acts), then I would suggest the amount of time that has passed is irrelevant (within jurisdictional bounds). If a crime has been c…

You're thinking too big. Think smaller and more common.

Said something unpleasant about someone ten years ago? Guess what, he's the sheriff now, and has money in the budget to buy social media data on his enemies, or the freedom to tap into any shared federal database he likes. Next thing you know, there's a speed trap at the end of your block and each member of your family gets pulled over each day for a vehicle inspection.

These sorts of things weren't unheard of before the internet. The abuse of big data just makes it easier now.

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