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ProtonMail provides information used to identify email owner...
(www.404media.co)
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this post was submitted on 05 Mar 2026
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Privacy
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Proton, if it cared, could have taken any number of steps to mitigate this problem. Like I said, they created a false image of what they provided to the public and have been back peddling ever since. I get it you don't see it that way and that you don't view yourself as a shill.
You’re still confusing two completely different things: privacy and anonymity. Encryption protects the content of messages, not every piece of metadata around an account. Proton has always been clear about that.
In the 404 Media case, the identification came from payment information, not from Proton breaking encryption. If someone pays with a credit card, their identity is already tied to the account. That would happen with any provider under legal jurisdiction.
Honestly, the way you’re framing this suggests you don’t really understand how encryption, metadata, and OPSEC work. Encryption ≠ anonymity. Anyone who actually works in security knows that.
I was never confused about the issue. Honestly you are just shilling for Proton.
I’m not shilling for Proton. I’m pointing out a basic distinction you keep ignoring: encryption protects message content, not identity.
Calling Proton’s encryption a “lie” just shows you’re arguing emotionally rather than technically. Anyone who actually understands the space knows encrypted email was never meant to guarantee anonymity.
I said their marketing was a lie. Hey I get it, reading is hard.
I read it just fine. What you’re doing is calling it a “lie” because you expected anonymity from a tool that advertises encrypted email. Those aren’t the same thing.
Anyone who actually understands the basics of privacy tools knows that. Your argument sounds more like frustration than a technical point.
Please, they changed their marketing and had to make several clarifications. They were deceptive to begin with. It was always dumb considering they only ever followed the law. It was never like they went above and beyond.
Hey we are company that follows the law pick us just doesn't have the vibe that got them their business.
I criticize the company for their practices you are playing shill pretending to "inform" me about technical issues.