Proton's Privacy Policies Fail to Fully Protect Payment Info

Court records show Proton Mail shared payment details with authorities in Switzerland, who then provided the information to the FBI.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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While Proton's end-to-end encryption can keep account data private, the company's policies do not fully protect payment information. Court records reveal that Proton Mail responded to a request from Swiss authorities for payment details tied to an account associated with the Stop Cop City protests in Atlanta, and that information was then shared with the FBI.

Why it matters

This case highlights the limitations of Proton's privacy claims, as even with its encryption, the company can still be compelled to share certain user data with law enforcement. It raises concerns about the privacy and security of payment information, especially for activists and others who may be targeted by authorities.

The details

According to 404 Media, court records show that Proton Mail provided payment information associated with an account linked to the Stop Cop City protests in Atlanta to Swiss authorities, who then shared that data with the FBI. This occurred despite Proton's claims of strong privacy protections and end-to-end encryption, which can keep account contents private even from the service provider.

  • On March 5, 2026, The Verge reported on the court records and Proton Mail's response to authorities.

The players

Proton Mail

A secure email service provider that claims to offer strong privacy protections through end-to-end encryption.

Stop Cop City

A protest movement in Atlanta, Georgia opposing the construction of a new police training facility.

FBI

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the primary federal law enforcement agency in the United States.

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What they’re saying

“While end-to-end encryption can keep an account's data private and hidden even from a service provider, the name of who paid for the account and other metadata is harder to hide.”

— Richard Lawler (The Verge)

The takeaway

This case highlights the limitations of Proton's privacy claims, as even with its encryption, the company can still be compelled to share certain user data with law enforcement. It raises concerns about the privacy and security of payment information, especially for activists and others who may be targeted by authorities.