Proton

In 2010, Mark Zuckerburg dismissed privacy as a social norm that had outlived its usefulness. Fortunately for us all, he was wrong. In the past 12 years, privacy has undergone a resurgence. Citizens are demanding their privacy be respected, policymakers are now passing laws to make digital markets competitive, and even Big Tech is making (often dubious) privacy claims.

It seems now that the internet of the future will be more private, which is saying something. Much of this can be traced back to the Proton community. By embracing privacy-by-default technologies, we’re showing the world that privacy matters and that building an alternative privacy-first internet is sustainable.

Recently, Proton passed 70 million user accounts, demonstrating the widespread interest in privacy-first technologies that are better for users and society. Your support has allowed Proton Mail to become the world’s largest secure email service(new window) and Proton VPN to become the most-used free VPN service(new window) in many countries around the world, particularly in places where freedom of information is needed the most, such as in Russia. Best of all, we have been able to do this while preserving Proton’s original values from our earliest crowdfunding days. Proton continues to be free, open source, neutral, independent, and community first. Your support is essential to protecting Proton’s values as it has allowed us to grow to a team of over 400 that can serve you better while remaining financially sustainable. 

Thanks to your support, our work continues. It is not easy to build an alternative internet that puts privacy first and provides an alternative to the offerings provided by Big Tech companies that put profits first. But our journey so far shows that it is not impossible, and we look forward to continuing to build a free, open, and private internet with all of you.

Related articles

The Earth, a recycling symbol, and a warning sign representing a reminder to back up data on World Backup Day
Celebrate World Backup Day by learning from data loss stories, from family heirlooms to $500,000 in Bitcoin, and how to avoid a similar fate.
A desktop computer showing cleanup supplies and Proton apps for digital cleaning
Take control of your digital life by spring cleaning your inbox, passwords, and cloud storage using Proton's suite of privacy-first tools.
What is ePHI? The difference between PHI and ePHI explained
What is the difference between ePHI and PHI, and how can healthcare data can optimally be kept safe as it’s passed from one party to another?
A vial, Erlenmeyer flask, and a DNA double-helix being deleted.
If you used 23andMe, your data could soon be for sale. Here's how to delete your data from 23andMe — and why you might want to do so sooner than later.
European alternatives to US tech
Take back control of your digital life with privacy-focused European alternatives to US Big Tech apps and services.
A badge representing ISO 27001 certification for file sharing
What is ISO 27001 secure file collaboration? Learn about ISO 27001 certification and how to maintain ISO 27001 compliance for your business.