Proton Mail - Revision history

SinexTitan: category update II

2026-03-25T16:27:50Z

category update II

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:27, 25 March 2026
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	{{Ph-C-SA}}		{{Ph-C-SA}}
	==References==		==References==
	~~<references />~~		{{reflist}}
			[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

SinexTitan: category update

2026-03-25T16:26:07Z

category update

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:26, 25 March 2026
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	This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}\|{{PAGENAME}} category]].		This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}\|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

	=== False advertising and working with authorities (2021.09.06) ===		===False advertising and working with authorities (2021.09.06)===
	{{Main\|Proton Mail discloses activist IP address to police}}		{{Main\|Proton Mail discloses activist IP address to police}}
	Up to 2021, ProtonMail advertised itself as a private and secure service with the following under "Anonymous email": <blockquote>"No personal information is required to create your secure email account. By default, we do not keep any IP logs which can be linked to your anonymous email account. Your privacy comes first."<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: Proton is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me/mail \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831234120/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-08-31 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> </blockquote>This statement proved to be false, when in September 2021, a member of a French activist group had been using ProtonMail to communicate with other groups. As an investigation was launched involving them, the email provider handed over the user's IP address and other data, including the device they were using.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Lomas \|first=Natasha \|date=2021-09-06 \|title=ProtonMail logged IP address of French activist after order by Swiss authorities \|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=TechCrunch \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112062019/https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Salter \|first=Jim \|date=2021-09-07 \|title=ProtonMail removed “we do not keep any IP logs” from its privacy policy \|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=Ars Technica \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209002537/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref> The section was changed shortly after getting attention from news outlets and the general public.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: ProtonMail is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907033644/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-09-07 \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> <!-- This needs a format restructure or a main incident page, but I can't be bothered to learn it right now. I just do tone and citations... -raster -->		Up to 2021, ProtonMail advertised itself as a private and secure service with the following under "Anonymous email": <blockquote>"No personal information is required to create your secure email account. By default, we do not keep any IP logs which can be linked to your anonymous email account. Your privacy comes first."<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: Proton is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me/mail \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831234120/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-08-31 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> </blockquote>This statement proved to be false, when in September 2021, a member of a French activist group had been using ProtonMail to communicate with other groups. As an investigation was launched involving them, the email provider handed over the user's IP address and other data, including the device they were using.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Lomas \|first=Natasha \|date=2021-09-06 \|title=ProtonMail logged IP address of French activist after order by Swiss authorities \|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=TechCrunch \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112062019/https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Salter \|first=Jim \|date=2021-09-07 \|title=ProtonMail removed “we do not keep any IP logs” from its privacy policy \|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=Ars Technica \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209002537/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref> The section was changed shortly after getting attention from news outlets and the general public.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: ProtonMail is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907033644/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-09-07 \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> <!-- This needs a format restructure or a main incident page, but I can't be bothered to learn it right now. I just do tone and citations... -raster -->

	=== Harsh inactive account policy ===		===Harsh inactive account policy===
	In 2022, ProtonMail announced a policy that entails the [[Inactive account deletion\|deletion of inactive accounts]], resulting in major controversy. Many users have criticised the decisions and advocated for nuanced versions of inactive account policies, such as deleting only the email contents of any inactive ProtonMail accounts instead of the accounts themselves, as the latter would reportedly result in major inconvenience for users who used the accounts as multiple-factor authentications for important services, such as banking. It has also been said that the harsh policy will adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalisation, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=ProtonMail \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=Protonmail's dormant policy is now in effect. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/u3ejjp/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241218103805/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/u3ejjp/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|archive-date=18 Dec 2024\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=Protonmail's dormant policy is now in effect. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/u3g406/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221016093816/https://old.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/u3g406/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|archive-date=16 Oct 2022\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref>		In 2022, ProtonMail announced a policy that entails the [[Inactive account deletion\|deletion of inactive accounts]], resulting in major controversy. Many users have criticised the decisions and advocated for nuanced versions of inactive account policies, such as deleting only the email contents of any inactive ProtonMail accounts instead of the accounts themselves, as the latter would reportedly result in major inconvenience for users who used the accounts as multiple-factor authentications for important services, such as banking. It has also been said that the harsh policy will adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalisation, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=ProtonMail \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=Protonmail's dormant policy is now in effect. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/u3ejjp/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241218103805/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/u3ejjp/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|archive-date=18 Dec 2024\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=Protonmail's dormant policy is now in effect. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/u3g406/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221016093816/https://old.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/u3g406/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|archive-date=16 Oct 2022\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref>

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	The Proton team has stated on Reddit that the inactive account policy aims to "manage their resources in a sustainable way". In the comments, it was noted that retaining the accounts themselves indefinitely and only purging their contents would not noticeably increase operating costs compared to deleting entire accounts, given that login information is all that would have to be retained. ProtonMail also does not allow registering email accounts with the same address as deleted email accounts to prevent impersonation, which would be possible only because it retains the deleted email addresses in its records.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-04-09 \|title=Proton's New Policy for Free Inactive Accounts \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250128155913/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|archive-date=28 Jan 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref> <!-- "would only be possible / is only possible" is strong language, needs rewording. also is there an "unless...?" on this justification -->		The Proton team has stated on Reddit that the inactive account policy aims to "manage their resources in a sustainable way". In the comments, it was noted that retaining the accounts themselves indefinitely and only purging their contents would not noticeably increase operating costs compared to deleting entire accounts, given that login information is all that would have to be retained. ProtonMail also does not allow registering email accounts with the same address as deleted email accounts to prevent impersonation, which would be possible only because it retains the deleted email addresses in its records.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-04-09 \|title=Proton's New Policy for Free Inactive Accounts \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250128155913/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|archive-date=28 Jan 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref> <!-- "would only be possible / is only possible" is strong language, needs rewording. also is there an "unless...?" on this justification -->

	=== Data portability ===		===Data portability===
	Until around 2023, there was no way for users without a paid subscription to create local backups of all of their emails at once (an example of [[data lock-in]]). Paying users could utilise the Proton Mail Bridge to download their emails via the IMAP protocol using an external client, such as Thunderbird or Outlook. In contrast, free users were limited to downloading each email individually, making it impractical for backup purposes.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to export and import emails \|url=https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/ \|url-status=unfit \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220426212143/https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/ \|archive-date=26 Apr 2022\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref>		Until around 2023, there was no way for users without a paid subscription to create local backups of all of their emails at once (an example of [[data lock-in]]). Paying users could utilise the Proton Mail Bridge to download their emails via the IMAP protocol using an external client, such as Thunderbird or Outlook. In contrast, free users were limited to downloading each email individually, making it impractical for backup purposes.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to export and import emails \|url=https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/ \|url-status=unfit \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220426212143/https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/ \|archive-date=26 Apr 2022\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref>

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	==References==		==References==
	<references />		<references />
	~~[[Category:Proton]]~~

SinexTitan: bit too long winded for a product article

2026-03-25T16:23:45Z

bit too long winded for a product article

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:23, 25 March 2026
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	'''{{Wplink\|Proton_Mail\|Proton Mail}}''' is a privacy-focused email service based in Switzerland, which has partnered with non-Swiss content delivery networks, such as Radware. Proton Mail is part of the [[Proton]] suite of privacy-focused online services and software which includes Proton VPN, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, etc.		'''{{Wplink\|Proton_Mail\|Proton Mail}}''' is a privacy-focused email service based in Switzerland, which has partnered with non-Swiss content delivery networks, such as Radware. Proton Mail is part of the [[Proton]] suite of privacy-focused online services and software which includes Proton VPN, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, etc.

	==~~False advertising and working with authorities~~==		==Consumer-impact summary==
	Up to 2021, ProtonMail has advertised itself as a private and secure service with the following under "Anonymous email": <blockquote>"No personal information is required to create your secure email account. By default, we do not keep any IP logs which can be linked to your anonymous email account. Your privacy comes first."<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: Proton is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me/mail \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831234120/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-08-31 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> </blockquote>This statement proved to be false, when in September 2021, a member of a French activist group had been using ProtonMail to communicate with other groups. As an investigation was launched involving them, the email provider handed over the user's IP address and other data, including the device they were using.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Lomas \|first=Natasha \|date=2021-09-06 \|title=ProtonMail logged IP address of French activist after order by Swiss authorities \|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=TechCrunch \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112062019/https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Salter \|first=Jim \|date=2021-09-07 \|title=ProtonMail removed “we do not keep any IP logs” from its privacy policy \|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=Ars Technica \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209002537/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref> The section was changed shortly after getting attention from news outlets and the general public.<ref>{{~~Cite web \|title=Secure email: ProtonMail is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me \|archive~~-~~url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907033644/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-09-07 \|access-date=2025-11~~-~~19 \|website=ProtonMail~~}}~~</ref> <!-- This needs a format restructure or a main incident page, but I can't be bothered to learn it right now. I just do tone and citations... -raster -->~~		{{Ph-C-CIS}}

	==~~=ProtonMail's Response=~~==		==Incidents==
	~~ProtonMail responded that it~~ is ~~not required~~ to ~~comply with authorities such as EUROPOL. Although~~ this ~~may be true, in cases of investigations, larger organisations from outside simply use the Swiss government as a middleman to facilitate any request they wish~~. ~~ProtonMail is~~ not ~~anonymous, and any information will~~ be ~~handed over when requested by the Swiss government, which also cooperates with other investigative authorities, leading to essentially no protection~~ in the ~~event of such an occurrence.~~{{~~Citation needed~~\|~~reason=link below is not for this topic~~}}		This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}\|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

	Proton ~~has created video conferencing integrations with Zoom~~, a ~~non-~~private ~~platform~~.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Proton ~~opts for Zoom videoconferencing~~ \|url=https://~~discuss~~.~~privacyguides.net/t/proton-opts-for-zoom-videoconferencing~~/~~24569~~ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=~~http~~://web.archive.org/web/~~20260217082923~~/https://~~discuss~~.~~privacyguides~~.~~net~~/t/~~proton~~-~~opts~~-~~for~~-~~zoom~~-~~videoconferencing~~/~~24569~~ \|~~archive~~-~~date~~=~~17 Feb 2026~~\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=~~Privacy Guides Community~~}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|title=~~How to add Zoom meetings to event invitations~~ \|url=https://~~proton~~.me/~~support~~/~~calendar~~-~~zoom~~ \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=~~Proton~~ \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/~~20260215155903~~/https://proton.me/~~support~~/~~calendar~~-~~zoom~~ \|~~archive~~-date=~~15 Feb 2026~~}}</ref> <!-- ~~Probably~~ needs a ~~new section unrelated~~ to ~~this incident~~. -->		=== False advertising and working with authorities (2021.09.06) ===
			{{Main\|Proton Mail discloses activist IP address to police}}
			Up to 2021, ProtonMail advertised itself as a private and secure service with the following under "Anonymous email": <blockquote>"No personal information is required to create your secure email account. By default, we do not keep any IP logs which can be linked to your anonymous email account. Your privacy comes first."<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: Proton is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me/mail \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831234120/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-08-31 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> </blockquote>This statement proved to be false, when in September 2021, a member of a French activist group had been using ProtonMail to communicate with other groups. As an investigation was launched involving them, the email provider handed over the user's IP address and other data, including the device they were using.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Lomas \|first=Natasha \|date=2021-09-06 \|title=ProtonMail logged IP address of French activist after order by Swiss authorities \|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=TechCrunch \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112062019/https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Salter \|first=Jim \|date=2021-09-07 \|title=ProtonMail removed “we do not keep any IP logs” from its privacy policy \|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=Ars Technica \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209002537/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref> The section was changed shortly after getting attention from news outlets and the general public.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: ProtonMail is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907033644/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-09-07 \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> <!-- This needs a format restructure or a main incident page, but I can't be bothered to learn it right now. I just do tone and citations... -raster -->

	==Harsh inactive account policy==		=== Harsh inactive account policy ===
	In 2022, ProtonMail announced a policy that entails the [[Inactive account deletion\|deletion of inactive accounts]], resulting in major controversy. Many users have criticised the decisions and advocated for nuanced versions of inactive account policies, such as deleting only the email contents of any inactive ProtonMail accounts instead of the accounts themselves, as the latter would reportedly result in major inconvenience for users who used the accounts as multiple-factor authentications for important services, such as banking. It has also been said that the harsh policy will adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalisation, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=ProtonMail \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=Protonmail's dormant policy is now in effect. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/u3ejjp/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241218103805/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/u3ejjp/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|archive-date=18 Dec 2024\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=Protonmail's dormant policy is now in effect. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/u3g406/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221016093816/https://old.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/u3g406/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|archive-date=16 Oct 2022\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref>		In 2022, ProtonMail announced a policy that entails the [[Inactive account deletion\|deletion of inactive accounts]], resulting in major controversy. Many users have criticised the decisions and advocated for nuanced versions of inactive account policies, such as deleting only the email contents of any inactive ProtonMail accounts instead of the accounts themselves, as the latter would reportedly result in major inconvenience for users who used the accounts as multiple-factor authentications for important services, such as banking. It has also been said that the harsh policy will adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalisation, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=ProtonMail \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=Protonmail's dormant policy is now in effect. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/u3ejjp/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241218103805/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/u3ejjp/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|archive-date=18 Dec 2024\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=Protonmail's dormant policy is now in effect. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/u3g406/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221016093816/https://old.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/u3g406/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|archive-date=16 Oct 2022\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref>

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	The Proton team has stated on Reddit that the inactive account policy aims to "manage their resources in a sustainable way". In the comments, it was noted that retaining the accounts themselves indefinitely and only purging their contents would not noticeably increase operating costs compared to deleting entire accounts, given that login information is all that would have to be retained. ProtonMail also does not allow registering email accounts with the same address as deleted email accounts to prevent impersonation, which would be possible only because it retains the deleted email addresses in its records.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-04-09 \|title=Proton's New Policy for Free Inactive Accounts \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250128155913/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|archive-date=28 Jan 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref> <!-- "would only be possible / is only possible" is strong language, needs rewording. also is there an "unless...?" on this justification -->		The Proton team has stated on Reddit that the inactive account policy aims to "manage their resources in a sustainable way". In the comments, it was noted that retaining the accounts themselves indefinitely and only purging their contents would not noticeably increase operating costs compared to deleting entire accounts, given that login information is all that would have to be retained. ProtonMail also does not allow registering email accounts with the same address as deleted email accounts to prevent impersonation, which would be possible only because it retains the deleted email addresses in its records.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-04-09 \|title=Proton's New Policy for Free Inactive Accounts \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250128155913/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|archive-date=28 Jan 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref> <!-- "would only be possible / is only possible" is strong language, needs rewording. also is there an "unless...?" on this justification -->

	==Data portability==		=== Data portability ===
	Until around 2023, there was no way for users without a paid subscription to create local backups of all of their emails at once (an example of [[data lock-in]]). Paying users could utilise the Proton Mail Bridge to download their emails via the IMAP protocol using an external client, such as Thunderbird or Outlook. In contrast, free users were limited to downloading each email individually, making it impractical for backup purposes.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to export and import emails \|url=https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/ \|url-status=unfit \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220426212143/https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/ \|archive-date=26 Apr 2022\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref>		Until around 2023, there was no way for users without a paid subscription to create local backups of all of their emails at once (an example of [[data lock-in]]). Paying users could utilise the Proton Mail Bridge to download their emails via the IMAP protocol using an external client, such as Thunderbird or Outlook. In contrast, free users were limited to downloading each email individually, making it impractical for backup purposes.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to export and import emails \|url=https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/ \|url-status=unfit \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220426212143/https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/ \|archive-date=26 Apr 2022\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref>

	Since approximately 2023, Proton Technologies has offered an export tool that anyone can utilise.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to export and restore emails using the Proton Mail Export Tool \|url=https://proton.me/support/proton-mail-export-tool \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131212130/https://proton.me/support/proton-mail-export-tool \|archive-date=31 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref>		Since approximately 2023, Proton Technologies has offered an export tool that anyone can utilise.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to export and restore emails using the Proton Mail Export Tool \|url=https://proton.me/support/proton-mail-export-tool \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131212130/https://proton.me/support/proton-mail-export-tool \|archive-date=31 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref>

			==See also==
			{{Ph-C-SA}}
	==References==		==References==
	<references />		<references />
	[[Category:Proton]]		[[Category:Proton]]

2001:4BC9:82B:F663:2205:B7FF:FE00:E700: /* References */ fix archive date

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	In response, ProtonMail added an exemption, where the inactive account policy would not apply to any accounts that had premium subscriptions, <ref>{{Cite web \|title=Update to our inactive account policy \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/uca15y/update_to_our_inactive_account_policy/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250402195858/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/uca15y/update_to_our_inactive_account_policy/ \|archive-date=2 Apr 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Ashwin \|first= \|date=2022-04-27 \|title=ProtonMail will not delete user accounts for inactivity if the user had paid for a subscription at any point \|url=https://www.ghacks.net/2022/04/27/protonmail-will-not-delete-inactive-user-accounts-for-former-premium-subscribers/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250316094922/https://www.ghacks.net/2022/04/27/protonmail-will-not-delete-inactive-user-accounts-for-former-premium-subscribers/ \|archive-date=16 Mar 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=ghacks.net}}</ref> although the exemption was revoked as of 2024.{{CitationNeeded\|reason=any official announcements?}} <!-- This change is visible in the support article though. before : https://archive.ph/H3jjI \| after : https://archive.ph/BEEuw --> ProtonMail accounts created before April 9, 2024, have a two-year grace period before being subject to the policy, as opposed to one year for newer accounts.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inactive Accounts \|url=https://proton.me/support/inactive-accounts \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131180800/https://proton.me/support/inactive-accounts \|archive-date=31 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref> In some cases, users have reported success in recovering their inactive accounts after being locked under the policy.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Account is no longer available due to inactivity \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1i7gbd7/account_is_no_longer_available_due_to_inactivity/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222223819/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1i7gbd7/account_is_no_longer_available_due_to_inactivity/ \|archive-date=22 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref>		In response, ProtonMail added an exemption, where the inactive account policy would not apply to any accounts that had premium subscriptions, <ref>{{Cite web \|title=Update to our inactive account policy \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/uca15y/update_to_our_inactive_account_policy/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250402195858/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/uca15y/update_to_our_inactive_account_policy/ \|archive-date=2 Apr 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Ashwin \|first= \|date=2022-04-27 \|title=ProtonMail will not delete user accounts for inactivity if the user had paid for a subscription at any point \|url=https://www.ghacks.net/2022/04/27/protonmail-will-not-delete-inactive-user-accounts-for-former-premium-subscribers/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250316094922/https://www.ghacks.net/2022/04/27/protonmail-will-not-delete-inactive-user-accounts-for-former-premium-subscribers/ \|archive-date=16 Mar 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=ghacks.net}}</ref> although the exemption was revoked as of 2024.{{CitationNeeded\|reason=any official announcements?}} <!-- This change is visible in the support article though. before : https://archive.ph/H3jjI \| after : https://archive.ph/BEEuw --> ProtonMail accounts created before April 9, 2024, have a two-year grace period before being subject to the policy, as opposed to one year for newer accounts.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inactive Accounts \|url=https://proton.me/support/inactive-accounts \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131180800/https://proton.me/support/inactive-accounts \|archive-date=31 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref> In some cases, users have reported success in recovering their inactive accounts after being locked under the policy.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Account is no longer available due to inactivity \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1i7gbd7/account_is_no_longer_available_due_to_inactivity/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222223819/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1i7gbd7/account_is_no_longer_available_due_to_inactivity/ \|archive-date=22 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref>

	As of 2025, many users continue to voice their concerns regarding the inactive account policy, advocating for sensible measures such as deleting only the contents of inactive accounts while sparing the accounts themselves.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inactive account policy - keep account when deleting data {{!}} How can we improve Proton? \|url=https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/48235556-inactive-account-policy-keep-account-when-deleti \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260212110648/https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/48235556-inactive-account-policy-keep-account-when-deleti \|archive-date=~~2025~~-11-20 \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=protonmail.uservoice.com}}</ref>		As of 2025, many users continue to voice their concerns regarding the inactive account policy, advocating for sensible measures such as deleting only the contents of inactive accounts while sparing the accounts themselves.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inactive account policy - keep account when deleting data {{!}} How can we improve Proton? \|url=https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/48235556-inactive-account-policy-keep-account-when-deleti \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260212110648/https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/48235556-inactive-account-policy-keep-account-when-deleti \|archive-date=2026-02-12 \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=protonmail.uservoice.com}}</ref>

	The Proton team has stated on Reddit that the inactive account policy aims to "manage their resources in a sustainable way". In the comments, it was noted that retaining the accounts themselves indefinitely and only purging their contents would not noticeably increase operating costs compared to deleting entire accounts, given that login information is all that would have to be retained. ProtonMail also does not allow registering email accounts with the same address as deleted email accounts to prevent impersonation, which would be possible only because it retains the deleted email addresses in its records.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-04-09 \|title=Proton's New Policy for Free Inactive Accounts \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250128155913/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|archive-date=28 Jan 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref> <!-- "would only be possible / is only possible" is strong language, needs rewording. also is there an "unless...?" on this justification -->		The Proton team has stated on Reddit that the inactive account policy aims to "manage their resources in a sustainable way". In the comments, it was noted that retaining the accounts themselves indefinitely and only purging their contents would not noticeably increase operating costs compared to deleting entire accounts, given that login information is all that would have to be retained. ProtonMail also does not allow registering email accounts with the same address as deleted email accounts to prevent impersonation, which would be possible only because it retains the deleted email addresses in its records.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-04-09 \|title=Proton's New Policy for Free Inactive Accounts \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250128155913/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|archive-date=28 Jan 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref> <!-- "would only be possible / is only possible" is strong language, needs rewording. also is there an "unless...?" on this justification -->

220.235.33.204: improved wording and formatting

2026-03-13T16:12:29Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 16:12, 13 March 2026
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	==False advertising and working with authorities==		==False advertising and working with authorities==
	Up to 2021, ~~Protonmail~~ has advertised itself as a private and secure service with the following under "Anonymous email": <blockquote>"No personal information is required to create your secure email account. By default, we do not keep any IP logs which can be linked to your anonymous email account. Your privacy comes first."<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: Proton is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me/mail \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831234120/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-08-31 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> </blockquote>This statement proved to be false, when in September 2021, a member of a French activist group had been using ProtonMail to communicate with other groups. As an investigation was launched involving them, the email provider handed over the user's IP address and other data, including the device they were using.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Lomas \|first=Natasha \|date=2021-09-06 \|title=ProtonMail logged IP address of French activist after order by Swiss authorities \|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=TechCrunch \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112062019/https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Salter \|first=Jim \|date=2021-09-07 \|title=ProtonMail removed “we do not keep any IP logs” from its privacy policy \|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=Ars Technica \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209002537/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref> The section was changed shortly after getting attention from news outlets and the general public.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: ProtonMail is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907033644/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-09-07 \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> <!-- This needs a format restructure or a main incident page, but I can't be bothered to learn it right now. I just do tone and citations... -raster -->		Up to 2021, ProtonMail has advertised itself as a private and secure service with the following under "Anonymous email": <blockquote>"No personal information is required to create your secure email account. By default, we do not keep any IP logs which can be linked to your anonymous email account. Your privacy comes first."<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: Proton is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me/mail \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831234120/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-08-31 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> </blockquote>This statement proved to be false, when in September 2021, a member of a French activist group had been using ProtonMail to communicate with other groups. As an investigation was launched involving them, the email provider handed over the user's IP address and other data, including the device they were using.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Lomas \|first=Natasha \|date=2021-09-06 \|title=ProtonMail logged IP address of French activist after order by Swiss authorities \|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=TechCrunch \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112062019/https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Salter \|first=Jim \|date=2021-09-07 \|title=ProtonMail removed “we do not keep any IP logs” from its privacy policy \|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=Ars Technica \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209002537/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref> The section was changed shortly after getting attention from news outlets and the general public.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: ProtonMail is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907033644/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-09-07 \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> <!-- This needs a format restructure or a main incident page, but I can't be bothered to learn it right now. I just do tone and citations... -raster -->

	===ProtonMail's Response===		===ProtonMail's Response===
	~~Protonmail~~ responded that it is not required to comply with authorities such as EUROPOL. Although this may be true, in cases of investigations, larger ~~organizations~~ from outside simply use the Swiss government as a middleman to facilitate any request they wish. ProtonMail is not anonymous, and any information will be handed over when requested by the Swiss government, which also cooperates with other investigative authorities, leading to essentially no protection in the event of such an occurrence.{{Citation needed\|reason=link below is not for this topic}}		ProtonMail responded that it is not required to comply with authorities such as EUROPOL. Although this may be true, in cases of investigations, larger organisations from outside simply use the Swiss government as a middleman to facilitate any request they wish. ProtonMail is not anonymous, and any information will be handed over when requested by the Swiss government, which also cooperates with other investigative authorities, leading to essentially no protection in the event of such an occurrence.{{Citation needed\|reason=link below is not for this topic}}

	Proton has created video conferencing integrations with Zoom, a non-private platform.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Proton opts for Zoom videoconferencing \|url=https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/proton-opts-for-zoom-videoconferencing/24569 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260217082923/https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/proton-opts-for-zoom-videoconferencing/24569 \|archive-date=17 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Privacy Guides Community}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to add Zoom meetings to event invitations \|url=https://proton.me/support/calendar-zoom \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260215155903/https://proton.me/support/calendar-zoom \|archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref> <!-- Probably needs a new section unrelated to this incident. -->		Proton has created video conferencing integrations with Zoom, a non-private platform.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Proton opts for Zoom videoconferencing \|url=https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/proton-opts-for-zoom-videoconferencing/24569 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260217082923/https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/proton-opts-for-zoom-videoconferencing/24569 \|archive-date=17 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Privacy Guides Community}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to add Zoom meetings to event invitations \|url=https://proton.me/support/calendar-zoom \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260215155903/https://proton.me/support/calendar-zoom \|archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref> <!-- Probably needs a new section unrelated to this incident. -->

	==Harsh inactive account policy==		==Harsh inactive account policy==
	In 2022, ProtonMail announced a policy that entails the [[Inactive account deletion\|deletion of inactive accounts]], resulting in major controversy. Many users have ~~criticized~~ the decisions and advocated for nuanced versions of inactive account policies, such as deleting only the email contents of any inactive ~~Protonmail~~ accounts instead of the accounts themselves, as the latter would reportedly result in major inconvenience for users who used the accounts as multiple-factor authentications for important services, such as banking. It has also been said that the harsh policy will adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as ~~hospitalization~~, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=ProtonMail \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=Protonmail's dormant policy is now in effect. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/u3ejjp/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241218103805/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/u3ejjp/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|archive-date=18 Dec 2024\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=Protonmail's dormant policy is now in effect. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/u3g406/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221016093816/https://old.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/u3g406/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|archive-date=16 Oct 2022\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref>		In 2022, ProtonMail announced a policy that entails the [[Inactive account deletion\|deletion of inactive accounts]], resulting in major controversy. Many users have criticised the decisions and advocated for nuanced versions of inactive account policies, such as deleting only the email contents of any inactive ProtonMail accounts instead of the accounts themselves, as the latter would reportedly result in major inconvenience for users who used the accounts as multiple-factor authentications for important services, such as banking. It has also been said that the harsh policy will adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalisation, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=ProtonMail \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=Protonmail's dormant policy is now in effect. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/u3ejjp/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241218103805/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/u3ejjp/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|archive-date=18 Dec 2024\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=Protonmail's dormant policy is now in effect. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/u3g406/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221016093816/https://old.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/u3g406/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|archive-date=16 Oct 2022\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref>

	In response, ProtonMail added an exemption, where the inactive account policy would not apply to any accounts that had premium subscriptions ~~at one point; however~~,<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Update to our inactive account policy \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/uca15y/update_to_our_inactive_account_policy/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250402195858/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/uca15y/update_to_our_inactive_account_policy/ \|archive-date=2 Apr 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Ashwin \|first= \|date=2022-04-27 \|title=ProtonMail will not delete user accounts for inactivity if the user had paid for a subscription at any point \|url=https://www.ghacks.net/2022/04/27/protonmail-will-not-delete-inactive-user-accounts-for-former-premium-subscribers/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250316094922/https://www.ghacks.net/2022/04/27/protonmail-will-not-delete-inactive-user-accounts-for-former-premium-subscribers/ \|archive-date=16 Mar 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=ghacks.net}}</ref> ~~at one point,~~ although the exemption was revoked as of 2024.{{CitationNeeded\|reason=any official announcements?}} <!-- This change is visible in the support article though. before : https://archive.ph/H3jjI \| after : https://archive.ph/BEEuw --> ProtonMail accounts created before April 9, 2024, have a two-year grace period before being subject to the policy, as opposed to one year for newer accounts.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inactive Accounts \|url=https://proton.me/support/inactive-accounts \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131180800/https://proton.me/support/inactive-accounts \|archive-date=31 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref> In some cases, users have reported success in recovering their inactive accounts after being locked under the policy.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Account is no longer available due to inactivity \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1i7gbd7/account_is_no_longer_available_due_to_inactivity/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222223819/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1i7gbd7/account_is_no_longer_available_due_to_inactivity/ \|archive-date=22 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref>		In response, ProtonMail added an exemption, where the inactive account policy would not apply to any accounts that had premium subscriptions, <ref>{{Cite web \|title=Update to our inactive account policy \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/uca15y/update_to_our_inactive_account_policy/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250402195858/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/uca15y/update_to_our_inactive_account_policy/ \|archive-date=2 Apr 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Ashwin \|first= \|date=2022-04-27 \|title=ProtonMail will not delete user accounts for inactivity if the user had paid for a subscription at any point \|url=https://www.ghacks.net/2022/04/27/protonmail-will-not-delete-inactive-user-accounts-for-former-premium-subscribers/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250316094922/https://www.ghacks.net/2022/04/27/protonmail-will-not-delete-inactive-user-accounts-for-former-premium-subscribers/ \|archive-date=16 Mar 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=ghacks.net}}</ref> although the exemption was revoked as of 2024.{{CitationNeeded\|reason=any official announcements?}} <!-- This change is visible in the support article though. before : https://archive.ph/H3jjI \| after : https://archive.ph/BEEuw --> ProtonMail accounts created before April 9, 2024, have a two-year grace period before being subject to the policy, as opposed to one year for newer accounts.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inactive Accounts \|url=https://proton.me/support/inactive-accounts \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131180800/https://proton.me/support/inactive-accounts \|archive-date=31 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref> In some cases, users have reported success in recovering their inactive accounts after being locked under the policy.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Account is no longer available due to inactivity \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1i7gbd7/account_is_no_longer_available_due_to_inactivity/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222223819/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1i7gbd7/account_is_no_longer_available_due_to_inactivity/ \|archive-date=22 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref>

	As of 2025, many users continue to voice their concerns regarding the inactive account policy, advocating for sensible measures such as deleting only the contents of inactive accounts while sparing the accounts themselves.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inactive account policy - keep account when deleting data {{!}} How can we improve Proton? \|url=https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/48235556-inactive-account-policy-keep-account-when-deleti \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260212110648/https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/48235556-inactive-account-policy-keep-account-when-deleti \|archive-date=2025-11-20 \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=protonmail.uservoice.com}}</ref>		As of 2025, many users continue to voice their concerns regarding the inactive account policy, advocating for sensible measures such as deleting only the contents of inactive accounts while sparing the accounts themselves.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inactive account policy - keep account when deleting data {{!}} How can we improve Proton? \|url=https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/48235556-inactive-account-policy-keep-account-when-deleti \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260212110648/https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/48235556-inactive-account-policy-keep-account-when-deleti \|archive-date=2025-11-20 \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=protonmail.uservoice.com}}</ref>
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	==Data portability==		==Data portability==
	Until around 2023, there was no way for users without a paid subscription to create local backups of all of their emails at once (an example of [[data lock-in]]). Paying users could ~~utilize~~ the Proton Mail Bridge to download their emails via the IMAP protocol using an external client, such as Thunderbird or Outlook. In contrast, free users were limited to downloading each email individually, making it impractical for backup purposes.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to export and import emails \|url=https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/ \|url-status=unfit \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220426212143/https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/ \|archive-date=26 Apr 2022\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref>		Until around 2023, there was no way for users without a paid subscription to create local backups of all of their emails at once (an example of [[data lock-in]]). Paying users could utilise the Proton Mail Bridge to download their emails via the IMAP protocol using an external client, such as Thunderbird or Outlook. In contrast, free users were limited to downloading each email individually, making it impractical for backup purposes.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to export and import emails \|url=https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/ \|url-status=unfit \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220426212143/https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/ \|archive-date=26 Apr 2022\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref>

	Since approximately 2023, Proton Technologies has offered an export tool that anyone can ~~utilize~~.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to export and restore emails using the Proton Mail Export Tool \|url=https://proton.me/support/proton-mail-export-tool \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131212130/https://proton.me/support/proton-mail-export-tool \|archive-date=31 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref>		Since approximately 2023, Proton Technologies has offered an export tool that anyone can utilise.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to export and restore emails using the Proton Mail Export Tool \|url=https://proton.me/support/proton-mail-export-tool \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131212130/https://proton.me/support/proton-mail-export-tool \|archive-date=31 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref>

	==References==		==References==
	<references />		<references />
	[[Category:Proton]]		[[Category:Proton]]

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	==False advertising and working with authorities==		==False advertising and working with authorities==
	Up to 2021, Protonmail has advertised itself as a private and secure service with the following under "Anonymous email": <blockquote>"No personal information is required to create your secure email account. By default, we do not keep any IP logs which can be linked to your anonymous email account. Your privacy comes first."<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: Proton is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me/mail \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831234120/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-08-31 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> </blockquote>~~As it turned out, that~~ statement ~~was~~ false~~. In~~ September 2021, a member of a French activist group had been using ProtonMail to communicate with other groups. As an investigation was launched involving them, the email provider handed over the user's IP address and other data, including the device they were using.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Lomas \|first=Natasha \|date=2021-09-06 \|title=ProtonMail logged IP address of French activist after order by Swiss authorities \|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=TechCrunch \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112062019/https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Salter \|first=Jim \|date=2021-09-07 \|title=ProtonMail removed “we do not keep any IP logs” from its privacy policy \|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=Ars Technica \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209002537/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref> The section was changed shortly after getting attention from news outlets and the general public.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: ProtonMail is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907033644/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-09-07 \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> <!-- This needs a format restructure or a main incident page, but I can't be bothered to learn it right now. I just do tone and citations... -raster -->		Up to 2021, Protonmail has advertised itself as a private and secure service with the following under "Anonymous email": <blockquote>"No personal information is required to create your secure email account. By default, we do not keep any IP logs which can be linked to your anonymous email account. Your privacy comes first."<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: Proton is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me/mail \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831234120/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-08-31 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> </blockquote>This statement proved to be false, when in September 2021, a member of a French activist group had been using ProtonMail to communicate with other groups. As an investigation was launched involving them, the email provider handed over the user's IP address and other data, including the device they were using.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Lomas \|first=Natasha \|date=2021-09-06 \|title=ProtonMail logged IP address of French activist after order by Swiss authorities \|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=TechCrunch \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112062019/https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Salter \|first=Jim \|date=2021-09-07 \|title=ProtonMail removed “we do not keep any IP logs” from its privacy policy \|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=Ars Technica \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209002537/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref> The section was changed shortly after getting attention from news outlets and the general public.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: ProtonMail is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907033644/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-09-07 \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> <!-- This needs a format restructure or a main incident page, but I can't be bothered to learn it right now. I just do tone and citations... -raster -->

	===ProtonMail's Response===		===ProtonMail's Response===

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	==False advertising and working with authorities==		==False advertising and working with authorities==
	Up to 2021, Protonmail has advertised itself as a private and secure service with the following under "Anonymous email": <blockquote>"No personal information is required to create your secure email account. By default, we do not keep any IP logs which can be linked to your anonymous email account. Your privacy comes first."<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: Proton is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me/mail \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831234120/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-08-31 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> </blockquote>As it turned out, that statement was false. In September 2021, a member of a French activist group had been using ProtonMail to communicate with other groups. As an investigation was launched involving them, the email provider handed over the user's IP address and other data, including the device they were using.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Lomas \|first=Natasha \|date=2021-09-06 \|title=ProtonMail logged IP address of French activist after order by Swiss authorities \|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=TechCrunch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Salter \|first=Jim \|date=2021-09-07 \|title=ProtonMail removed “we do not keep any IP logs” from its privacy policy \|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=Ars Technica}}</ref> The section was changed shortly after getting attention from news outlets and the general public.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: ProtonMail is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907033644/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-09-07 \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> <!-- This needs a format restructure or a main incident page, but I can't be bothered to learn it right now. I just do tone and citations... -raster -->		Up to 2021, Protonmail has advertised itself as a private and secure service with the following under "Anonymous email": <blockquote>"No personal information is required to create your secure email account. By default, we do not keep any IP logs which can be linked to your anonymous email account. Your privacy comes first."<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: Proton is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me/mail \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831234120/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-08-31 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> </blockquote>As it turned out, that statement was false. In September 2021, a member of a French activist group had been using ProtonMail to communicate with other groups. As an investigation was launched involving them, the email provider handed over the user's IP address and other data, including the device they were using.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Lomas \|first=Natasha \|date=2021-09-06 \|title=ProtonMail logged IP address of French activist after order by Swiss authorities \|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=TechCrunch \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112062019/https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Salter \|first=Jim \|date=2021-09-07 \|title=ProtonMail removed “we do not keep any IP logs” from its privacy policy \|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=Ars Technica \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209002537/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref> The section was changed shortly after getting attention from news outlets and the general public.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: ProtonMail is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907033644/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-09-07 \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> <!-- This needs a format restructure or a main incident page, but I can't be bothered to learn it right now. I just do tone and citations... -raster -->

	===ProtonMail's Response===		===ProtonMail's Response===
	Protonmail responded that it is not required to comply with authorities such as EUROPOL. Although this may be true, in cases of investigations, larger organizations from outside simply use the Swiss government as a middleman to facilitate any request they wish. ProtonMail is not anonymous, and any information will be handed over when requested by the Swiss government, which also cooperates with other investigative authorities, leading to essentially no protection in the event of such an occurrence.{{Citation needed\|reason=link below is not for this topic}}		Protonmail responded that it is not required to comply with authorities such as EUROPOL. Although this may be true, in cases of investigations, larger organizations from outside simply use the Swiss government as a middleman to facilitate any request they wish. ProtonMail is not anonymous, and any information will be handed over when requested by the Swiss government, which also cooperates with other investigative authorities, leading to essentially no protection in the event of such an occurrence.{{Citation needed\|reason=link below is not for this topic}}

	Proton has created video conferencing integrations with Zoom, a non-private platform.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Proton opts for Zoom videoconferencing \|url=https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/proton-opts-for-zoom-videoconferencing/24569 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260217082923/https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/proton-opts-for-zoom-videoconferencing/24569 \|archive-date=17 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Privacy Guides Community}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to add Zoom meetings to event invitations \|url=https://proton.me/support/calendar-zoom \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref> <!-- Probably needs a new section unrelated to this incident. -->		Proton has created video conferencing integrations with Zoom, a non-private platform.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Proton opts for Zoom videoconferencing \|url=https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/proton-opts-for-zoom-videoconferencing/24569 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260217082923/https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/proton-opts-for-zoom-videoconferencing/24569 \|archive-date=17 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Privacy Guides Community}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to add Zoom meetings to event invitations \|url=https://proton.me/support/calendar-zoom \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260215155903/https://proton.me/support/calendar-zoom \|archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref> <!-- Probably needs a new section unrelated to this incident. -->

	==Harsh inactive account policy==		==Harsh inactive account policy==

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	==False advertising and working with authorities==		==False advertising and working with authorities==
	Up to 2021, Protonmail has advertised itself as a private and secure service with the following under "Anonymous email": <blockquote>"No personal information is required to create your secure email account. By default, we do not keep any IP logs which can be linked to your anonymous email account. Your privacy comes first."<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: Proton is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me/mail \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831234120/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-08-31 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> </blockquote>As it turned out, that statement was false. In September 2021, a member of a French activist group had been using ProtonMail to communicate with other groups. As an investigation was launched involving them, the email provider handed over the user's IP address and other data, including the device they were using.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Lomas \|first=Natasha \|date=2021-09-06 \|title=ProtonMail logged IP address of French activist after order by Swiss authorities \|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=TechCrunch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Salter \|first=Jim \|date=2021-09-07 \|title=ProtonMail removed “we do not keep any IP logs” from its privacy policy \|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=Ars Technica}}</ref> The section was changed shortly after getting attention from ~~new~~ outlets and the general public.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: ProtonMail is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907033644/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-09-07 \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> <!-- This needs a format restructure or a main incident page, but I can't be bothered to learn it right now. I just do tone and citations... -raster -->		Up to 2021, Protonmail has advertised itself as a private and secure service with the following under "Anonymous email": <blockquote>"No personal information is required to create your secure email account. By default, we do not keep any IP logs which can be linked to your anonymous email account. Your privacy comes first."<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: Proton is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me/mail \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831234120/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-08-31 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> </blockquote>As it turned out, that statement was false. In September 2021, a member of a French activist group had been using ProtonMail to communicate with other groups. As an investigation was launched involving them, the email provider handed over the user's IP address and other data, including the device they were using.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Lomas \|first=Natasha \|date=2021-09-06 \|title=ProtonMail logged IP address of French activist after order by Swiss authorities \|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=TechCrunch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Salter \|first=Jim \|date=2021-09-07 \|title=ProtonMail removed “we do not keep any IP logs” from its privacy policy \|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/privacy-focused-protonmail-provided-a-users-ip-address-to-authorities/ \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=Ars Technica}}</ref> The section was changed shortly after getting attention from news outlets and the general public.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Secure email: ProtonMail is free encrypted email. \|url=https://proton.me \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907033644/https://protonmail.com/ \|archive-date=2021-09-07 \|access-date=2025-11-19 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref> <!-- This needs a format restructure or a main incident page, but I can't be bothered to learn it right now. I just do tone and citations... -raster -->

	===ProtonMail's Response===		===ProtonMail's Response===

SinexTitan: SinexTitan moved page Protonmail to Proton Mail: Misspelled title: not really a mispelled title but also not accurate

2026-01-04T15:48:07Z

SinexTitan moved page Protonmail to Proton Mail: Misspelled title: not really a mispelled title but also not accurate

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:48, 4 January 2026
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← Older revision		Revision as of 02:52, 21 March 2026
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	In response, ProtonMail added an exemption, where the inactive account policy would not apply to any accounts that had premium subscriptions, <ref>{{Cite web \|title=Update to our inactive account policy \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/uca15y/update_to_our_inactive_account_policy/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250402195858/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/uca15y/update_to_our_inactive_account_policy/ \|archive-date=2 Apr 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Ashwin \|first= \|date=2022-04-27 \|title=ProtonMail will not delete user accounts for inactivity if the user had paid for a subscription at any point \|url=https://www.ghacks.net/2022/04/27/protonmail-will-not-delete-inactive-user-accounts-for-former-premium-subscribers/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250316094922/https://www.ghacks.net/2022/04/27/protonmail-will-not-delete-inactive-user-accounts-for-former-premium-subscribers/ \|archive-date=16 Mar 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=ghacks.net}}</ref> although the exemption was revoked as of 2024.{{CitationNeeded\|reason=any official announcements?}} <!-- This change is visible in the support article though. before : https://archive.ph/H3jjI \| after : https://archive.ph/BEEuw --> ProtonMail accounts created before April 9, 2024, have a two-year grace period before being subject to the policy, as opposed to one year for newer accounts.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inactive Accounts \|url=https://proton.me/support/inactive-accounts \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131180800/https://proton.me/support/inactive-accounts \|archive-date=31 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref> In some cases, users have reported success in recovering their inactive accounts after being locked under the policy.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Account is no longer available due to inactivity \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1i7gbd7/account_is_no_longer_available_due_to_inactivity/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222223819/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1i7gbd7/account_is_no_longer_available_due_to_inactivity/ \|archive-date=22 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref>		In response, ProtonMail added an exemption, where the inactive account policy would not apply to any accounts that had premium subscriptions, <ref>{{Cite web \|title=Update to our inactive account policy \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/uca15y/update_to_our_inactive_account_policy/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250402195858/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/uca15y/update_to_our_inactive_account_policy/ \|archive-date=2 Apr 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Ashwin \|first= \|date=2022-04-27 \|title=ProtonMail will not delete user accounts for inactivity if the user had paid for a subscription at any point \|url=https://www.ghacks.net/2022/04/27/protonmail-will-not-delete-inactive-user-accounts-for-former-premium-subscribers/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250316094922/https://www.ghacks.net/2022/04/27/protonmail-will-not-delete-inactive-user-accounts-for-former-premium-subscribers/ \|archive-date=16 Mar 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=ghacks.net}}</ref> although the exemption was revoked as of 2024.{{CitationNeeded\|reason=any official announcements?}} <!-- This change is visible in the support article though. before : https://archive.ph/H3jjI \| after : https://archive.ph/BEEuw --> ProtonMail accounts created before April 9, 2024, have a two-year grace period before being subject to the policy, as opposed to one year for newer accounts.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inactive Accounts \|url=https://proton.me/support/inactive-accounts \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131180800/https://proton.me/support/inactive-accounts \|archive-date=31 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref> In some cases, users have reported success in recovering their inactive accounts after being locked under the policy.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Account is no longer available due to inactivity \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1i7gbd7/account_is_no_longer_available_due_to_inactivity/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222223819/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1i7gbd7/account_is_no_longer_available_due_to_inactivity/ \|archive-date=22 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref>

	As of 2025, many users continue to voice their concerns regarding the inactive account policy, advocating for sensible measures such as deleting only the contents of inactive accounts while sparing the accounts themselves.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inactive account policy - keep account when deleting data {{!}} How can we improve Proton? \|url=https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/48235556-inactive-account-policy-keep-account-when-deleti \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260212110648/https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/48235556-inactive-account-policy-keep-account-when-deleti \|archive-date=~~2025~~-11-20 \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=protonmail.uservoice.com}}</ref>		As of 2025, many users continue to voice their concerns regarding the inactive account policy, advocating for sensible measures such as deleting only the contents of inactive accounts while sparing the accounts themselves.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inactive account policy - keep account when deleting data {{!}} How can we improve Proton? \|url=https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/48235556-inactive-account-policy-keep-account-when-deleti \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260212110648/https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/48235556-inactive-account-policy-keep-account-when-deleti \|archive-date=2026-02-12 \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=protonmail.uservoice.com}}</ref>

	The Proton team has stated on Reddit that the inactive account policy aims to "manage their resources in a sustainable way". In the comments, it was noted that retaining the accounts themselves indefinitely and only purging their contents would not noticeably increase operating costs compared to deleting entire accounts, given that login information is all that would have to be retained. ProtonMail also does not allow registering email accounts with the same address as deleted email accounts to prevent impersonation, which would be possible only because it retains the deleted email addresses in its records.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-04-09 \|title=Proton's New Policy for Free Inactive Accounts \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250128155913/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|archive-date=28 Jan 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref> <!-- "would only be possible / is only possible" is strong language, needs rewording. also is there an "unless...?" on this justification -->		The Proton team has stated on Reddit that the inactive account policy aims to "manage their resources in a sustainable way". In the comments, it was noted that retaining the accounts themselves indefinitely and only purging their contents would not noticeably increase operating costs compared to deleting entire accounts, given that login information is all that would have to be retained. ProtonMail also does not allow registering email accounts with the same address as deleted email accounts to prevent impersonation, which would be possible only because it retains the deleted email addresses in its records.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-04-09 \|title=Proton's New Policy for Free Inactive Accounts \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250128155913/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|archive-date=28 Jan 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref> <!-- "would only be possible / is only possible" is strong language, needs rewording. also is there an "unless...?" on this justification -->

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:38, 22 February 2026
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	Protonmail responded that it is not required to comply with authorities such as EUROPOL. Although this may be true, in cases of investigations, larger organizations from outside simply use the Swiss government as a middleman to facilitate any request they wish. ProtonMail is not anonymous, and any information will be handed over when requested by the Swiss government, which also cooperates with other investigative authorities, leading to essentially no protection in the event of such an occurrence.{{Citation needed\|reason=link below is not for this topic}}		Protonmail responded that it is not required to comply with authorities such as EUROPOL. Although this may be true, in cases of investigations, larger organizations from outside simply use the Swiss government as a middleman to facilitate any request they wish. ProtonMail is not anonymous, and any information will be handed over when requested by the Swiss government, which also cooperates with other investigative authorities, leading to essentially no protection in the event of such an occurrence.{{Citation needed\|reason=link below is not for this topic}}

	Proton has created video conferencing integrations with Zoom, a non-private platform.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Proton opts for Zoom videoconferencing \|url=https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/proton-opts-for-zoom-videoconferencing/24569 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://~~archive~~.ph/~~jCW4k~~ \|archive-date=~~2025-11-20~~ \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Privacy Guides Community}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to add Zoom meetings to event invitations \|url=https://proton.me/support/calendar-zoom \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref> <!-- Probably needs a new section unrelated to this incident. -->		Proton has created video conferencing integrations with Zoom, a non-private platform.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Proton opts for Zoom videoconferencing \|url=https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/proton-opts-for-zoom-videoconferencing/24569 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260217082923/https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/proton-opts-for-zoom-videoconferencing/24569 \|archive-date=17 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Privacy Guides Community}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to add Zoom meetings to event invitations \|url=https://proton.me/support/calendar-zoom \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref> <!-- Probably needs a new section unrelated to this incident. -->

	==Harsh inactive account policy==		==Harsh inactive account policy==
	In 2022, ProtonMail announced a policy that entails the [[Inactive account deletion\|deletion of inactive accounts]], resulting in major controversy. Many users have criticized the decisions and advocated for nuanced versions of inactive account policies, such as deleting only the email contents of any inactive Protonmail accounts instead of the accounts themselves, as the latter would reportedly result in major inconvenience for users who used the accounts as multiple-factor authentications for important services, such as banking. It has also been said that the harsh policy will adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=ProtonMail \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=Protonmail's dormant policy is now in effect. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/u3ejjp/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://~~archive~~.ph/~~sn16C~~ \|archive-date=~~2025-11-20~~ \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=Protonmail's dormant policy is now in effect. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/u3g406/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://~~archive~~.ph/~~3QW7N~~ \|archive-date=~~2025-11-20~~ \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref>		In 2022, ProtonMail announced a policy that entails the [[Inactive account deletion\|deletion of inactive accounts]], resulting in major controversy. Many users have criticized the decisions and advocated for nuanced versions of inactive account policies, such as deleting only the email contents of any inactive Protonmail accounts instead of the accounts themselves, as the latter would reportedly result in major inconvenience for users who used the accounts as multiple-factor authentications for important services, such as banking. It has also been said that the harsh policy will adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=ProtonMail \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=Protonmail's dormant policy is now in effect. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/u3ejjp/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241218103805/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/u3ejjp/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|archive-date=18 Dec 2024\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=Protonmail's dormant policy is now in effect. \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/u3g406/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221016093816/https://old.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/u3g406/protonmails_dormant_policy_is_now_in_effect/ \|archive-date=16 Oct 2022\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref>

	In response, ProtonMail added an exemption, where the inactive account policy would not apply to any accounts that had premium subscriptions at one point; however,<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Update to our inactive account policy \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/uca15y/update_to_our_inactive_account_policy/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://~~archive~~.ph/~~3y16r~~ \|archive-date=2025~~-11-20~~ \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Ashwin \|first= \|date=2022-04-27 \|title=ProtonMail will not delete user accounts for inactivity if the user had paid for a subscription at any point \|url=https://www.ghacks.net/2022/04/27/protonmail-will-not-delete-inactive-user-accounts-for-former-premium-subscribers/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://~~archive~~.ph/~~UmKca~~ \|archive-date=2025~~-11-20~~ \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=ghacks.net}}</ref> at one point, although the exemption was revoked as of 2024.{{CitationNeeded\|reason=any official announcements?}} <!-- This change is visible in the support article though. before : https://archive.ph/H3jjI \| after : https://archive.ph/BEEuw --> ProtonMail accounts created before April 9, 2024, have a two-year grace period before being subject to the policy, as opposed to one year for newer accounts.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inactive Accounts \|url=https://proton.me/support/inactive-accounts \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://~~archive~~.ph/~~A1R9B~~ \|archive-date=~~2025-11-20~~ \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref> In some cases, users have reported success in recovering their inactive accounts after being locked under the policy.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Account is no longer available due to inactivity \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1i7gbd7/account_is_no_longer_available_due_to_inactivity/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://archive.ph/~~PwpYM~~ \|archive-date=~~2025-11-20~~ \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref>		In response, ProtonMail added an exemption, where the inactive account policy would not apply to any accounts that had premium subscriptions at one point; however,<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Update to our inactive account policy \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/uca15y/update_to_our_inactive_account_policy/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250402195858/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/uca15y/update_to_our_inactive_account_policy/ \|archive-date=2 Apr 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Ashwin \|first= \|date=2022-04-27 \|title=ProtonMail will not delete user accounts for inactivity if the user had paid for a subscription at any point \|url=https://www.ghacks.net/2022/04/27/protonmail-will-not-delete-inactive-user-accounts-for-former-premium-subscribers/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250316094922/https://www.ghacks.net/2022/04/27/protonmail-will-not-delete-inactive-user-accounts-for-former-premium-subscribers/ \|archive-date=16 Mar 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=ghacks.net}}</ref> at one point, although the exemption was revoked as of 2024.{{CitationNeeded\|reason=any official announcements?}} <!-- This change is visible in the support article though. before : https://archive.ph/H3jjI \| after : https://archive.ph/BEEuw --> ProtonMail accounts created before April 9, 2024, have a two-year grace period before being subject to the policy, as opposed to one year for newer accounts.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inactive Accounts \|url=https://proton.me/support/inactive-accounts \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131180800/https://proton.me/support/inactive-accounts \|archive-date=31 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref> In some cases, users have reported success in recovering their inactive accounts after being locked under the policy.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Account is no longer available due to inactivity \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1i7gbd7/account_is_no_longer_available_due_to_inactivity/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222223819/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1i7gbd7/account_is_no_longer_available_due_to_inactivity/ \|archive-date=22 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref>

	As of 2025, many users continue to voice their concerns regarding the inactive account policy, advocating for sensible measures such as deleting only the contents of inactive accounts while sparing the accounts themselves.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inactive account policy - keep account when deleting data {{!}} How can we improve Proton? \|url=https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/48235556-inactive-account-policy-keep-account-when-deleti \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://~~archive~~.ph/~~15xvr~~ \|archive-date=2025-11-20 \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=protonmail.uservoice.com}}</ref>		As of 2025, many users continue to voice their concerns regarding the inactive account policy, advocating for sensible measures such as deleting only the contents of inactive accounts while sparing the accounts themselves.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Inactive account policy - keep account when deleting data {{!}} How can we improve Proton? \|url=https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/48235556-inactive-account-policy-keep-account-when-deleti \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260212110648/https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/48235556-inactive-account-policy-keep-account-when-deleti \|archive-date=2025-11-20 \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=protonmail.uservoice.com}}</ref>

	The Proton team has stated on Reddit that the inactive account policy aims to "manage their resources in a sustainable way". In the comments, it was noted that retaining the accounts themselves indefinitely and only purging their contents would not noticeably increase operating costs compared to deleting entire accounts, given that login information is all that would have to be retained. ProtonMail also does not allow registering email accounts with the same address as deleted email accounts to prevent impersonation, which would be possible only because it retains the deleted email addresses in its records.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-04-09 \|title=Proton's New Policy for Free Inactive Accounts \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://~~archive~~.ph/~~b6w8s~~ \|archive-date=2025~~-07-06~~ \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref> <!-- "would only be possible / is only possible" is strong language, needs rewording. also is there an "unless...?" on this justification -->		The Proton team has stated on Reddit that the inactive account policy aims to "manage their resources in a sustainable way". In the comments, it was noted that retaining the accounts themselves indefinitely and only purging their contents would not noticeably increase operating costs compared to deleting entire accounts, given that login information is all that would have to be retained. ProtonMail also does not allow registering email accounts with the same address as deleted email accounts to prevent impersonation, which would be possible only because it retains the deleted email addresses in its records.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-04-09 \|title=Proton's New Policy for Free Inactive Accounts \|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250128155913/https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1bzt1ka/protons_new_policy_for_free_inactive_accounts/ \|archive-date=28 Jan 2025\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Reddit}}</ref> <!-- "would only be possible / is only possible" is strong language, needs rewording. also is there an "unless...?" on this justification -->

	==Data portability==		==Data portability==
	Until around 2023, there was no way for users without a paid subscription to create local backups of all of their emails at once (an example of [[data lock-in]]). Paying users could utilize the Proton Mail Bridge to download their emails via the IMAP protocol using an external client, such as Thunderbird or Outlook. In contrast, free users were limited to downloading each email individually, making it impractical for backup purposes.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to export and import emails \|url=https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/ \|url-status=unfit \|archive-url=~~https~~://archive.ph/~~2020.06.12-083856~~/https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/ \|archive-date=~~2020-06-12~~ \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref>		Until around 2023, there was no way for users without a paid subscription to create local backups of all of their emails at once (an example of [[data lock-in]]). Paying users could utilize the Proton Mail Bridge to download their emails via the IMAP protocol using an external client, such as Thunderbird or Outlook. In contrast, free users were limited to downloading each email individually, making it impractical for backup purposes.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to export and import emails \|url=https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/ \|url-status=unfit \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220426212143/https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/ \|archive-date=26 Apr 2022\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=ProtonMail}}</ref>

	Since approximately 2023, Proton Technologies has offered an export tool that anyone can utilize.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to export and restore emails using the Proton Mail Export Tool \|url=https://proton.me/support/proton-mail-export-tool \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://~~archive~~.ph/~~xTKrm~~ \|archive-date=~~2025-11-05~~ \|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref>		Since approximately 2023, Proton Technologies has offered an export tool that anyone can utilize.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=How to export and restore emails using the Proton Mail Export Tool \|url=https://proton.me/support/proton-mail-export-tool \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131212130/https://proton.me/support/proton-mail-export-tool \|archive-date=31 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-20 \|website=Proton}}</ref>

	==References==		==References==
	<references />		<references />
	[[Category:Proton]]		[[Category:Proton]]