Signal is introducing its first paid feature, offering users the option to create secure, end-to-end encrypted backups of their media history older than 45 days and their text message history for a monthly fee of $1.99. This initiative aims to address the challenges associated with the costs of storage and data transfer, as noted by Signal’s Vice President of Engineering, Jim O’Leary. He explained the nonprofit’s reliance on this model, contrasting it with other tech organizations that typically support themselves through advertising and the monetization of user data.
In addition to the paid option, Signal will also provide a free tier for secure backups, allowing users to save media from the last 45 days and text messages beyond that timeframe. However, users on the free tier will be limited to saving up to 100MB of messages, a measure anticipated to suffice for most active users.
The backup archives are designed to be stored without a direct connection to individual user accounts or payment records. Users will access their backups via a recovery key, which poses a risk; if the key is misplaced, recovery is not possible through the company. Additionally, enabling secure backups will trigger daily backup updates on the user’s device.
Currently, the feature is in beta for Android users, with plans for a public launch and support for iOS and desktop platforms expected soon. Future developments also include the ability for users to choose their desired backup storage locations.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/774018/signal-encrypted-secure-backups-paid-feature-beta