September 9, 2021

ProtonMail was heavily criticized after it was revealed that the encrypted email company had passed on user data to Swiss authorities, despite stating on its website that encrypted emails “cannot be shared with third parties.”

By default, the company also did not have “any IP (Internet Protocol) logs which can be linked to your anonymous email account.”

While trying to resolve questions about the data shared with the Swiss authorities, ProtonMail revealed that the company received “legally binding” instructions from the Swiss authorities to collect data. The company was unaware that the targeted user was a climate activist.

ProtonMail revealed that it can be required by authorities to record IP data associated with an account, even though it does not ordinarily keep logs. The company advised those interested in being anonymous to use The Onion Router (Tor) network, which hides user’s IP addresses under multiple layers of security.

For more information, read the original story on the BBC.