Signal-android: member can't be removed from group

[computersalat]

• [X] I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates
• [X] I am submitting a bug report for existing functionality that does not work as intended
• [X] I have read https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/wiki/Submitting-useful-bug-reports
• [X] This isn't a feature request or a discussion topic

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Bug description

Added user to group cvan't be removed

Steps to reproduce

• create group
• add memeber to group
• try to remove member again

Actual result: member can't be removed.
Expected result: member should be removable

Screenshots

You can't do screenshots in signal.

Device info

Device: OnePlus
Android version: any
Signal version: latest (4.32.8)

Link to debug log

how to debug ?

[greyson-signal]

You cannot evict members from groups in Signal. They must leave themselves.

[computersalat]

that is bad ... so you can add one to a group but you can't remove again
very clever ...

[computersalat]

hence I guess there is also no chance to delete a group ... cause all members need to leave first ...

[computersalat]

... then none is over to delete the group.
again very clever ...

[greyson-signal]

You can always leave the group and delete it if you no longer want to be a part of it. But I understand your frustration.

In order to remove another member from a group, you need to have the concept of group privileges (like an admin or group owner), but in order to do that, you would traditionally need to store centralized group state somewhere. However, Signal does not do this -- unlike other messaging apps, the server does not know group membership, name, or anything else -- which is by design.

[computersalat]

why not having a 'decentralized' group state ?

[natrius]

Maybe add this somehwere https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/ here as i found some issues related to this question. Explain there that it is a feature and not a bug or better, it is intended. (Yeah, old issue, but imho no need for a new issue)

[mlncn]

This comes as quite a shock when you need it— such as when your friendly neighborhood police department is rampaging through your city, and someone in your group get arrested for three days for being on their front porch during curfew, and they therefore cannot remove themselves from the group, but have in an abundance of caution asked that they be removed.

Agree strongly with the requests to document very clearly this fact, and not just in closed issues!

But moreover, i think there should be a feature request open for this. There could be three kinds of groups, that can be chosen at the start:

• Fixed: No one can add or remove from the initial members (except removing oneself).
• Open: Any member can add members; members can only remove themselves.
• Melee: Any member can add or remove members.

Yeah, the names need work, but you get the idea. This gives the initiator some choices without the need for the concept of group admins.

Anyhow here's the same issue, now locked, opened for iOS: https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-iOS/issues/1621

[alan-signal]

@mlncn It doesn't help you now, but we're working on it https://signal.org/blog/signal-private-group-system/

The solution for now is to open a new group with everyone except the member you want to eject.

[jeroenpraat]

@mlncn It doesn't help you now, but we're working on it https://signal.org/blog/signal-private-group-system/

@alan-signal Any update about this? I really need it. Here Telegram has much of a lead, but Telegram has another issues as we know.

[alan-signal]

No, you might want to look at the forum for updates and progress signs https://community.signalusers.org/