Proton Mail gave FBI payment data from Swiss servers, proving encrypted email privacy has limits when governments use legal treaties to demand user information.

cross-posted from : https://lemmy.zip/post/60387297

Proton Mail provided Swiss authorities with payment data for defendtheatlantaforest@protonmail.com — the account linked to Stop Cop City protests in Atlanta. The FBI obtained this information through a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty request on January 25, 2024, identifying the activist behind the anonymous account through their credit card identifier.

    • earthworm@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      101·
      1 day ago

      Proton has a history of breaking the spirit of its promise to users. Does Tuta?

      This marks Proton’s third known disclosure to authorities. They previously handed over a recovery email for a Catalan Democratic Tsunami activist and were forced to log a French climate activist’s IP address via Europol — despite claiming they don’t log IPs by default.

      Each case followed the same script: foreign law enforcement pressure, Swiss legal compliance, user anonymity compromised. Like watching the same Netflix thriller where the plot twist stops being surprising.

      • Rioting Pacifist@lemmy.worldEnglish
        51·
        1 day ago

        The frustrating part is all the simps telling you that E2EE makes it safe, nah the same way they can log the IP of a user when asked, they can use the JavaScript they send you when you open protonmail to upload whatever emails they want access to, or your to key.

        If you want E2EE use GPG, otherwise you’re just pretending.