Proton Mail gave FBI payment data from Swiss servers, proving encrypted email privacy has limits when governments use legal treaties to demand user information.

cross-posted from : https://lemmy.zip/post/60387297

Proton Mail provided Swiss authorities with payment data for defendtheatlantaforest@protonmail.com — the account linked to Stop Cop City protests in Atlanta. The FBI obtained this information through a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty request on January 25, 2024, identifying the activist behind the anonymous account through their credit card identifier.

  • Venia Silente@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    1·
    2 hours ago

    Furthermore, you can pay with bitcoin or even cash (sent to their HQ by mail). That way they’d have even less on you.

    With the caveat that in some of their procedures they (seem to?) require to append account information in the mail, so if the postage can be traced back to you that’s an issue.

    • tb_@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      1 hour ago

      Yeah, not sure how it’d work with return addresses and whatnot. But if the letter itself is intercepted there’s probably more that can be used to trace back to you, unless you only handled the money and paper in a clean room.