Well, just the app needs it. Gateways built in our phones which makes GrapheneOS more desirable.
Discussion
Not so with Bitchat, needs full phone Location Services and yes I am on GOS.
Correct, the app needs those "full" permissions but not your whole phone. Just the app to access without restrictions that radio.
In earlier version this was the case as you stated.
In later version, phone Location Services needs to be enabled (not just app location permission) before Bitchat would let you go past first app screen...unless they changed it again.
