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0 pointslelandfe4y ago0 comments

Technically correct but misleading.

They tout that off-by-default statement on their homepage, underneath the header of "Anonymous Email," with the closing sentence of "Your privacy comes first."

So why even market that? It provides no meaningful security.

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5 comments · 1 top-level

IlliOnato4y ago· 4 in thread

Were _you_ mislead by this? Did you really expect a Switzerland-based company not to comply with law of the land?

There is a difference between "available to police, not retroactively, and only with a valid warrant" and "available to any government agency constantly and in bulk, as well as to data-collecting commercial entities, Russian and Chinese hackers, and their dogs". Don't you agree?

kylehotchkiss4y ago

Really solid explanation of what you’re paying for as a proton customer - and despite this unfortunate situation for the French advocate is why myself and others will continue their paid ProtonMail plans

lelandfeOP4y ago

Fair point. I still don't think they've worded that well enough. I would probably not have read "By default" to have the context of "Unless asked to do so by authorities."

They're not being as transparent as possible in their marketing, which is at odds with their allure of security.

ipaddr4y ago

Wouldn't they have to comply with a secret data collecting order?

We are trusting they wouldn't comply or no one would make that request?

IlliOnato4y ago

As far as I know, Swiss law does not allow for "secret data collecting orders", unlike US after "Patriot Act".

This is the benefit if being located in Switzerland, where banking is one of the main pillars of the economy and which historically has been much more supportive of personal privacy than most other countries.

They eventually caved under US pressure on some things, so it's not such a "haven" as it used to be, but I believe it is still the country that respects individuals' rights the most.

Not perfect by any means, just better than most others.

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