31 votes

Proton Mail helped US FBI unmask anonymous ‘Stop Cop City’ protester

8 comments

  1. JXM
    Link
    They were given a legal court order for the data from the Swiss authorities, where they are based. What else would they do? It suck’s that this is the world we live in but if this person wanted to...
    • Exemplary

    They were given a legal court order for the data from the Swiss authorities, where they are based. What else would they do?

    It suck’s that this is the world we live in but if this person wanted to remain truly anonymous, they should have paid with cash (which Proton accepts).

    25 votes
  2. [6]
    donn
    Link
    Payments are kind of the weak link in any privacy-focused operation I've seen. Like whatever precautions you take; no logging, E2EE, etc your users will eventually need to pay money, and that will...

    Payments are kind of the weak link in any privacy-focused operation I've seen. Like whatever precautions you take; no logging, E2EE, etc your users will eventually need to pay money, and that will typically be done through the most auditable system in existence.

    21 votes
    1. [5]
      teaearlgraycold
      Link Parent
      Mullvad accepts envelopes of cash with just your account number on them.

      Mullvad accepts envelopes of cash with just your account number on them.

      11 votes
      1. Deely
        Link Parent
        Protonmail accepts cach too.

        Protonmail accepts cach too.

        We accept cash payments in US dollars (USD), euros (EUR), or Swiss francs (CHF).

        Send your payment to:
        Proton AG
        Route de la Galaise 32
        1228 Plan-les-Ouates
        Geneva
        Switzerland

        You must include your Proton Mail username.

        5 votes
      2. [3]
        artvandelay
        Link Parent
        Wouldn't a government authority still be able to at least track the actual bill back to your general area through their serial numbers? It obviously doesn't go straight back to you but it's something

        Wouldn't a government authority still be able to at least track the actual bill back to your general area through their serial numbers? It obviously doesn't go straight back to you but it's something

        3 votes
        1. teaearlgraycold
          Link Parent
          You can use bitcoin as well. But I really doubt bill serials would do much.

          You can use bitcoin as well. But I really doubt bill serials would do much.

          7 votes
        2. CannibalisticApple
          Link Parent
          I have no clue how much they track about where each batch of bills go, but bills can travel all over the country thanks to people taking them on trips. If they get cash via cashback at stores, it...

          I have no clue how much they track about where each batch of bills go, but bills can travel all over the country thanks to people taking them on trips. If they get cash via cashback at stores, it could originate from quite literally anywhere. And extra paranoid people can always make a point to only pick up cash from ATMs far away from their home. I mainly hear about serial numbers being useful in identifying bills from bank heists or other high-stakes crimes like the D.B. Cooper plane hijacking, since they'd KNOW the most recent step of the bill's history was the theft.

          2 votes