408
submitted 1 year ago by chkno@lemmy.ml to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

Gmail prompt to provide phone number sounds like a threat

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] fidodo@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

Especially when they already have access to your entire email history. If they wanted your phone number for nefarious means it will probably be somewhere in that history already. Your email already requires complete trust in the email provider service, there's so much more sensitive stuff they already have access to.

[-] lemmyvore@feddit.nl -1 points 1 year ago

Having your phone number means that whenever you get a new Android phone they will instantly know who you are even if you don't use the same Google account on that phone, or even if you never use any Google account. How does that sound?

[-] fidodo@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

There's also this thing called a phone book which has almost everyone and their number in it. Phone numbers are not sensitive information, period.

[-] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 1 points 1 year ago

Phone books don't show mobile numbers. In Europe at least mobile registries are private and subject to restrictions. Phone numbers are considered personal identification information under privacy laws, because portability regulations have made it possible for people to carry the same number for most of their lives.

Heck, I'm not sure phone books are still a thing over here, but if they still exist they're not allowed to show numbers for private individuals.

A few years ago there were websites that maintained phone number databases and would let you search who owns a number but GDPR stopped them cold.

this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2023
408 points (80.4% liked)

Privacy

31912 readers
587 users here now

A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

Some Rules

Related communities

Chat rooms

much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS