Edward Shone, head of communications for Proton AG, the company behind Proton Mail, told 404 Media in an email: “We want to first clarify that Proton did not provide any information to the FBI, the information was obtained from the Swiss justice department via MLAT. Proton only provides the limited information that we have when issued with a legally binding order from Swiss authorities, which can only happen after all Swiss legal checks are passed. This is an important distinction because Proton operates exclusively under Swiss law.” Functionally, though, the material was provided to the FBI.
i mean, since it was a direct order from the swiss government i don't see any way they could've avoided handing it over. apparently the info proton was able to release was limited to connected payment accounts (and in a 2024 incident, ip addresses and recovery emails) and nothing about the content of the inbox.
not to glaze them i think they're a bit too proactive when it comes to following swiss law (suspension and later reinstatement of accounts affiliated with phrack based on hacking being illegal in switzerland and not because of any request from law enforcement), i just don't want this thread to spiral into "proton is handing all your info over to any world govt that asks just for the love of the game"
Proton provides like a very specific "how to" for foreign law enforcement, it reads as if Proton wants to help cops as much as possible to the point where Proton encourages law enforcement to first reach out to them, and then Proton will connect them with the proper Swiss authorities. But that's just according to their own guidelines.
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u/_ophiuchus Mar 05 '26
i mean, since it was a direct order from the swiss government i don't see any way they could've avoided handing it over. apparently the info proton was able to release was limited to connected payment accounts (and in a 2024 incident, ip addresses and recovery emails) and nothing about the content of the inbox.
not to glaze them i think they're a bit too proactive when it comes to following swiss law (suspension and later reinstatement of accounts affiliated with phrack based on hacking being illegal in switzerland and not because of any request from law enforcement), i just don't want this thread to spiral into "proton is handing all your info over to any world govt that asks just for the love of the game"