A court record reviewed by 404 Media shows privacy-focused email provider Proton Mail handed over payment data related to a Stop Cop City email account to the Swiss government, which handed it to the FBI.
In their defense, they didn’t help the FBI, the Swiss government did. Proton mail had to comply with the local laws. I don’t think the Swiss government HAD to send it to US, but they did.
The real issue is these guys made the mistake of thinking any of these emails are truly anonymous and actually linking it to personal identity. They aren’t and you should take EVERY precaution if you are going to engage in illegal activity. It’s like they used a VPN to hide their Internet activity… To then go buy something online, with their own credit card, with their name and address tied to it… And then expected the vendor or bank not to submit to a subpoena.
It was always a scam. People keep repeating protonmail is more secure.
Proton mail is only a good option because you CAN use it, and set it up, fairly anonymously. But the thing about anonymity is, it’s end when you do anything that attaches your real identity to it. So while one may be able to make a proton mail account without really giving any personal identification for it, if one DOES give it their personal identification… Well then it’s not anonymous anymore. Lmao. And it doesn’t matter if the ones that see that info are trustworthy, cause you can show anyone a jail cell or a life ending fine and they will give you right up.
How can I “protect” myself while keeping my identity? Like, people who doesn’t wanna sell their personal info to big companies?
For basic shit use a paid VPN like Mullvad or IVPN. Pay in crypto if you can. Don’t use Google stuff. Not even a keyboard. Have Gboard on an android phone? It’s keylogging everything you type. Basically all keyboard are. The really best thing you can do is have two separate devices and use one exclusively for shit you can do without needing any identification. No buying shit. Use a proton mail without actually tying personal information to it. Get a fake phone number if you need oem but those are kind of hard to do. Say goodbye to telegram. It’s actually harder to stay anonymous there then discord.
I’m not a techy guy do I have a more lightweight option?
No. Modern technology and internet for the average person is DESIGNED to track you. Your options are
- Become techy
- Stop using technology
“…going to engage in illegal activity.” Protesting Stop Cop City is supposed to be protected activity in the US, so not illegal. They arrested a group supplying bail money to arrested protestors under the Rico Act, so it was the government and FBI carrying out the illegal activities. This is one of the myriad of reasons Proton plans to move their operations out of Switzerland to German.
What’s the best way to prevent your data to be sold to big companies?
At risk of sounding like a smarmy dickhead I will say the obvious… log off.
I know it’s not the answer anyone wants, and it trivializes a major aspect of society, but not using the products is the only way to not be taken advantage of by them.
