Gmail prompt to provide phone number sounds like a threat

  • LoafyLemon@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    I’m curious about their perspectives too.

    The only other options I can consider are government-issued ID verification, a bank validation process (a fast transfer to confirm identity), or the use of a debit/credit card.

    All of the above alternatives involve significantly more intrusion than requesting a phone number.

    • fidodo@lemm.ee
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      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
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        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
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          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
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            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.