Signal vs PayPal
Based on our analysis, Signal is the more privacy-respecting choice overall.
BACK →| Category | Signal | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | A · 87/100 | C- · 44/100 |
| What they collect | Positive (88) | Concern (38) |
| Who they share it with | Positive (88) | Concern (35) |
| What you can do | Mixed (78) | Mixed (52) |
| What they promise | Positive (86) | Concern (48) |
Signal is a nonprofit that genuinely cannot read your messages or listen to your calls — the encryption is architectural, not a promise — but it requires a real phone number to register, is subject to US law, and its privacy policy is conspicuously sparse: it hasn't been substantively updated since 2018 and lacks the specific retention periods, GDPR rights, or DPO contact that more thorough policies provide.
View full analysis →PayPal collects an unusually broad set of financial, behavioural, and biometric data — then retains it for ten years after you close your account. Automated systems can freeze or terminate your account with limited recourse, your purchase history is shared with merchants for personalised shopping by default, and your data trains PayPal's AI models. Some of this is legally required for a financial institution, but much is not.
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