⚠️ Article status notice: This article has been marked as incomplete
This article needs additional work for its sourcing and verifiability to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines and be in line with our Mission Statement for comprehensive coverage of consumer protection issues.
This notice will be removed once sufficient documentation has been added to establish the systemic nature of these issues. Once you believe the article is ready to have its notice removed, please visit the Moderator's noticeboard, or the discord and post to the #appeals channel.
Learn more ▼
Proton, officially known as Proton AG, is a Swiss company known for its commitment to privacy and security in the digital realm. Founded in 2014 by scientists from CERN and MIT, Proton is most commonly associated with its flagship product, ProtonMail, which offers end-to-end encrypted email services. The company operates under the principles of transparency and user privacy, ensuring that user data is protected from unauthorized access. Proton AG has expanded its offerings to include various services that cater to individuals and organizations seeking secure communication solutions.
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 |
| Legal Structure | Private |
| Industry | Technology, Telecommunications, Computer hardware |
| Also known as | |
| Official website | https://proton.me |
Consumer-impact summary
Business model
In addition to Proton Mail, Proton provides a range of services designed to enhance online privacy and security. These include:
- Proton VPN
- Proton Drive
- Proton Calendar
- Proton Pass (password manager)
Incidents
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the Proton category.
Proton starts moving their infrastructure out of Switzerland
Proton AG is relocating most of its infrastructure out of Switzerland in response to proposed changes in Swiss surveillance laws that threaten user privacy.[1][2] The amendments would require companies, including VPNs and messaging services, to identify users and retain their data, which contradicts Proton's commitment to providing secure and private services. To maintain its privacy standards, Proton plans to move its infrastructure to countries like Germany and Norway, where it can operate without the risk of mass surveillance.
CEO Andy Yen has emphasized that if these laws are enacted, Proton would be less confidential than competitors like Google, making it unsustainable for their business model.
Proton suspends journalists accounts who investigated North Korean cyberattacks
In June of 2025, writers for the magazine Phrack were investigating cyberattacks from a North Korean group that targeted South Korea's defense infrastructure. The writers disclosed the news of this attack through a dedicated Protonmail account that would only be used for informing South Korea. At the start of August they stopped receiving communication from South Korea, and on August 15th, their dedicated account for disclosure was suspended. The next day a journalist's personal Proton account was suspended as well. When the suspension was appealed, Proton rejected the appeal stating "your account will cause further damage to our service, therefore we will keep the account suspended." After numerous attempts to make contact with Proton, Phrack reached out publicly via X to Proton. Proton responded saying they had received an alert from a computer emergency response team who claimed hackers were misusing the specified Proton accounts. The journalists' accounts were re-instated the day after, but the CERT who made the report was not identified.
See also
References
- ↑ Maguire, Eamonn (23 July 2025). "Introducing Lumo, the AI where every conversation is confidential". proton.me. Retrieved 12 Aug 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Naprys, Ernestas (19 May 2025). "Proton threatens to leave Switzerland amid proposed law changes". cybernews.com. Retrieved 12 Aug 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
Mazurov, Nikita (2025-09-12). "Proton Mail Suspended Journalist Accounts at Request of Cybersecurity Agency". The Intercept.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
"Phrack Journalists Suspended from Proton Mail". 2025-09-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)