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

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.

  • InternetCitizen2@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    5 hours ago

    Credit cards create permanent identity links that no encryption protocol can erase.

    Here’s the brutal truth about “anonymous” email services: your payment method matters more than your password strength. Proton accepts cryptocurrency and cash precisely because credit cards eliminate anonymity from day one.

    Every monthly subscription charge links your encrypted account to your real identity through financial records that governments access routinely. The Stop Cop City activist could have sent messages in unbreakable code, but their credit card told the whole story.

    Yeah, I kind of expected it would be an opsec error. Still a big L for Proton. I have been hesitant to move due to them not being on Fdroid or having Linux support. One of the last major things for me to de-google. Tuta seems nice tho.

    • breadsmasher@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      5 hours ago

      not having linux support

      I have proton VPN installed on my linux box? Unless im misunderstanding you. Their mail service I use via web though

      • InternetCitizen2@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        4 hours ago

        I kinda wanted the mail client. Idk I just kind of like the work flow that way. I udnerstand a bit of why its not that way, and its not a huge del breaker. I do see some stuff has made its way onto fdroid which is nice.

        • breadsmasher@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          4 hours ago

          FDroid I cannot comment on. And I dont bother with desktop mail clients. So maybe our personal use cases dont match up

          • InternetCitizen2@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            4 hours ago

            I just kinda like thunderbird; tho its not that big of a deal breaker. Just at one point had quite a few emails and it was a helpful org tool. My Proton plan would be to consolidate a bit there anyway.

            • breadsmasher@lemmy.worldEnglish
              1·
              4 hours ago

              Additionally - im not shilling for proton here!! Im in their ecosystem and havent had problems BUT if I was to start again, Id consider other options too.

              Nothing wrong with proton per se. But for example, Mulvads approach (ie RAM disk only storage) sounds more positive