Internet privacy company Proton has developed a unique way of anticipating attacks on democracy in countries before they even hit the headlines. By noticing a spike in demand for its virtual private network (VPN) services, Proton is able to spot when democracy and freedom are under attack. This was the case when Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago and when Mahsa Amini’s death in custody sparked protests in Iran last October.
Speaking from Proton’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, CEO Andy Yen stated that the company’s mission of ensuring privacy and online access has taken on added urgency since the invasion of Ukraine. Yen, who grew up in Taiwan and was inspired by Edward Snowden’s disclosures of mass digital spying by US government agencies, believes that “privacy is something that is essential for freedom”.
Proton is different from big tech companies like Google and Facebook, in that it does not offer “free” services in exchange for selling users’ data to advertisers. Instead, Proton makes its money by selling monthly subscriptions for under $10 for extra features and end-to-end encrypted email and VPN services. This means that the company has no access to the data transiting its servers and thus has no data to sell even if it wanted to.
In countries like Russia, Iran, and elsewhere, Yen believes it is “essential” for companies like Proton to stay, even if there is a financial loss. As Proton continues to grow and its mission becomes more vital, the company is now playing a “cat and mouse game” with powerful governments who can threaten to shut down internet access.
In conclusion, Internet privacy company Proton is playing a vital role in shoring up democracy in the digital age. By noticing a spike in demand for its virtual private network (VPN) services, Proton is able to anticipate attacks on democracy in countries before they even hit the headlines. Proton is different from big tech companies in that it does not offer “free” services in exchange for selling users’ data to advertisers, but instead makes its money by selling monthly subscriptions for under $10 for extra features and end-to-end encrypted email and VPN services. Proton is now playing a “cat and mouse game” with powerful governments who can threaten to shut down internet access, and its mission has taken on added urgency since the invasion of Ukraine.
Key Points:
• Internet privacy company Proton can spot attacks on democracy in a country before they hit the headlines, simply by watching demand for its services.
• Proton’s mission of ensuring privacy and online access is a vital tool in shoring up democracy in the digital age.
• Proton makes its money by selling monthly subscriptions for under $10 for extra features and end-to-end encrypted email and VPN services, instead of offering “free” services in exchange for selling users’ data to advertisers.
• Proton is now playing a “cat and mouse game” with powerful governments who can threaten to shut down internet access.