SPT Score: Element (Messaging App)

Element (formerly Riot and Vector) is a free and open-source software instant messaging client implementing the Matrix protocol. Element supports end-to-end encryption, private and public groups, sharing of files between users, voice and video calls, and other collaborative features with help of bots and widgets. It is available as a web application that can be accessed through any modern web browser, as desktop apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and as a mobile app for Android and iOS. Taken from Wikipedia

Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, EULA (Enterprise Edition only).

Disclaimer: I mainly tested this with the main matrix instance (matrix.org) as it's the one with the biggest userbase. There may be a difference in Part I scores between instances.

Part I: Accounts

Additional notes: You may optionally let your element account be discovered by either email or phone number. Since this is opt in and completely optional I have not included them in the SPT.

Score for Part I: -10

Part II: Use of Service

Score for Part II: -10 (Personal), -30 (Enterprise edition)

Part III: Miscellaneous

Score for Part III: +20 (Personal and Enterprise editions)

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Total Score: 100 (Personal), 80 (Enterprise Edition)

Analysis: Element is yet another good option for encrypted communication. The lack of a mandatory phone number and its decentralized nature could make it a viable alternative to Signal, albeit with weaker encryption. Many also consider it a popular Discord alternative to the privacy conscious person but I personally think it needs more improvement before it can be a 1:1 comparison. For starters, group calls are still not E2EE and voice channels, arguably Discord's most popular feature, don't exist in Element. Still it's the closest we can get to a Discord but E2EE so if you can convince your guild or party to switch over then be my guest.



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