this post was submitted on 20 May 2026
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Oh look Proton is trying to score some PR bullshit when they will comply with the law just like they comply with the laws in their country. They are a greedy corporation who sells security theatre.
Firstly Proton is a non-profit.
Secondly security and privacy are two different things (albeit their connected).
Thirdly no company, for-profit or otherwise, is going to break the law for you.
There's following the law, and then there's giving away data to government agency just because they asked nicely, and could MAYBE get a warrant in the future. It is the equivalent of letting police into your house without a warrant, because maybe they'll get one.
You produmb defenders can't even get basic facts correct.
"Proton uses a unique hybrid model. The services are provided by a for-profit Swiss corporation called Proton AG with a primary shareholder that is non-profit."
So dumb it hurts, but by all means keep giving them your money. I heard they just doubled their price. Twice the price for the same stupidity.
You call people dumb then seem to not realize your undermining your own point...
Oh don't worry, I did this to Microsoft losers long ago, then Facebook, Google, Tesla, etc.
Talking shit about garbage services and companies is just a hobby of mine. Why so many bootlickers come scurrying out though has always been a surprise to me.
Maybe the point is, what is your alternative? Proton is still much more privacy focused than anything else that provides the same services.
Setting up your own domain isn’t for everyone. Tuta has less functionality and doesn’t offer things like cloud storage or VPN.
Yes they can do better, but calling it garbage is not helpful either.
People who disagree with you are not automatically boot lickers. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. As are you, even though I disagree with you.
The alternative is not paying for security theatre from a garbage company. Pretending Proton is the only option is beyond silly. I won't list off alternatives because you can find them easily yourself if you cared to.
You do hit on the best course of action though which is self hosting. I will admit I fought setting up an email server in the past and it was very difficult, but that is not the case anymore with docker and other solutions. Obviously this is not for everyone and that's why it is important to help out your fellow man.
Proton has lied repeatedly, back pedal repeatedly and constantly blames the end user for their shitty security practices. The leaders, in particular Andy Yen, are total douche canoes. I will never forget him saying that Trumplethinkskin was going to break up Google. That shit aged like fine milk.
I also suspect Proton is actually a honey trap for criminals. This corporations leaves a bad taste in my mouth with their fascist attempts to alter government policy with stupid threats like they will leave the country. Absolute garbage that they never intended to follow through on and just trying to score PR points for their security theater nonsense.
People who put companies like Proton on a pedestal are impossibly dumb. Giving a corporation your hard earned money for security has got to be one of the stupidest maneuvers in the digital world.
I am sorry, but people who defend corporations are the definition of bootlickers.
What alternatives to big tech that provide the same (or, most of the same, I’m not trying to be an asshole here) services are there? I’m not acting, nor am I silly. I’m not trying to personally attack you, so please don’t do it to me.
I tried to find alternatives and I disliked Yen’s comments a lot too, but I still decided on Proton for a move away from Microsoft and towards Europe. In this case perfect is the enemy of good, and that is what you’re doing here. It’s not very helpful.
You also can’t expect normal consumers with busy lives who don’t work a tech job to set up a private domain. Not everyone can be expected to go around asking their friends if they might have a tech-savvy cousin to set it up.
And how is not acknowledging it is garbage (I acknowledged it’s not perfect either, but it is good) putting it on a pedestal? I’m getting the feeling this is mostly an emotional response from you rather than a rational one.
You mentioned Tutanota, but also Hushmail, Mailfence, Zoho Mail, Mailbox, Posteo, Disroot, etc. I could probably dig up several more honestly without really trying.
I am sorry you feel trapped using Proton. This is the game and moving is time consuming and sometimes complicated. As Proton capitalizes increasing their cost and promoting lock in with their walled garden leaving will have to be a painful and personal choice for you.
I think with something important as email that consumers should take the time, pretending there is not enough time to deal with email is rather silly. I can see how self-defeating your perspective is. I am sorry you have bought into the idea that convenience and security go hand in hand.
I also have issues with using Europe as some panacea to US big tech. While US big tech should be avoided like the plague all their problems are also found in European corporations. There is no magic bullet, but if I had to choose it would be an independent and small provider.
I get the feeling you are an entrenched user who knows better but you are already falling into a sunk cost fallacy situation. Good luck on your endeavors.
That is not what I asked. They don’t have the same functions, do they? Or even close to most of the functions. They’re all just e-mail clients.
The fact that you can’t come up with this kind of proves my point. And also proves my question wasn’t silly at all. They’re not perfect but they are definitely better than American big tech and they have much more functions and are much more user-friendly than more privacy focused options. They are the optimal middle road.
And I don’t feel trapped at all. I just decided that this was the path of least resistance. Which it will be for many people. The fact that you can’t put yourself in someone else’s position is your problem. And as it is now, you’re the enemy of positive change.
I’m not entrenched at all, this is just your own feeling of insecurity.
Just because I don’t agree with you? Other people aren’t entitled to their opinion like you are?
It's because people don't like to be publicly proven wrong or humilliated or whatever you want to call it. Unless they come to that conclusion themselves or you can express your point in more polite and less preachy manner, you'll always get significant pushback.
Next thing you're gonna criticize Amtrak for being for profit...
Come on guys, I was just messing around with all the dumb and stupid stuff. Don't prove me right, please.
You're the kind of guy who confuses and conflates security, privacy, and anonymity all the while somehow expecting companies to operate beyond the law.
You can't make this shit up. Hahahaha
Produmb I guess. You do know they had to change their marketing material and backpedal several times already.
They love to blame the end user for their inability to get their act together. For instance, storing credit card information on their servers when they don't have to and if they really respected privacy they wouldn't. They love to pay that lip service.
I even read an article they published where they insinuated turning on logging was more beneficial than anonymity. Just plain stupid honestly.
People who think that throwing money at a problem are welcome to play security theatre with them. Another sucker is born everyday.
Hahahahhahahaha
Just another protard and a clown as well apparently.
Kinda have to comply with laws mate
Yes, that is why them advertising as a privacy respecting company in a country whose laws force them to respect privacy has always been dumb. Literally every email provider has to follow the same law there hence their security theatre to sell overpriced access to email and their ever growing walled garden.
They don't have access to your email... They never did. They have some unencrypted metadata and your encrypted mail
Trust me it is bad. I guess perhaps you could say it is a problem with the system, but then you have to admit the service that shall not be named is nothing special.
https://cambridgeanalytica.org/news/protonmail-s-logging-trap-how-privacy-theater-enables-the-post-cambridge-analytica-surveillance-state-50339/
They are not a Canadian company though, so they don't have to comply with Canadian laws.
They do not have to comply with Canadian laws unless they want to operate in Canada. Then they have to comply.
Do they comply with Chinese, Russian or American laws then?
China and Russia - Proton VPN does not work there.
USA - it works. Is there some laws I dont know about that USA has in order to gather data from VPN providers?
If they want to operate in canada they do
That’s not how any of this works.
How does it work?
They do business in Canada and with Canadians, so are subject to Canadian regulations for those activities.
Ford still has to comply with French law when they sell cars in France. GDPR applies to any business anywhere in the world if they interact with EU citizens.
Let's imagine they don't comply. What will happen then?
Fines
What happens if they don't pay?
Prosecution. This isn’t complex.