ProtonMail end-to-end encrypted email celebrates its seventh anniversary. Launched in May 2014, it was born thanks to a crowdfunding campaign. Its basic services are offered free of charge. Over the years, the company behind it, Proton, has developed other services, including a VPN. A winning bet since it revealed on May 19 that it now has more than 50 million users across the world, all services combined.
And Proton does not want to stop there. It still promises many new features and improvements to come. “During the year 2021, we will be releasing brand new versions of ProtonMail on all platforms, starting with the web. We will also be making Proton Calendar and Proton Drive available to all users on all platforms,” said the company in a press release.
The threat of lawmakers
However, the real challenge for Proton is not only to amass more users, but above all to retain them. Indeed, its goodwill is in danger in many countries, governments do not view this security of communications favorably. “The success of the anti-encryption movements in Australia and the UK has shown us that we must always remain vigilant,” the company explains.
And although Europe is more respectful of privacy than the United States, lawmakers are pushing for access to encrypted data, ostensibly in the context of investigations, with a bill that will be considered in the coming months. Asked about this by journalists from TechCrunch, the company underlines that these control proposals are done on a voluntary basis, while acknowledging that there is “some support” within the Commission for these measures to be made compulsory.
On the other hand, Proton denounces the “anti-competitive behavior” of large platforms, and is delighted to see prototypes of legal frameworks being put in place around the world. In general, the company wants to get more involved in these issues. “In the years to come, you can expect us to engage even more with policymakers,” concludes Proton.
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