so if you want to subscribe to a vpn, and you were considering proton, maybe dont

https://infosec.exchange/@josephcox/116178496048136287

@Viss you can pay Proton by cash via mail to stay anonymous.
@floriann and you would go to those lengths to pay them even though they'd turn over your logs still? tsk tsk
@Viss @floriann that's any business though right?
@bhhaskin @floriann in america - but proton isnt american. so why are they complying with a foreign law enforcement agency?
@Viss @floriann I mean this isn't the 90s anymore, most countries have legal mechanics in place for that kind of thing.

@bhhaskin @floriann yes - and having had to partake in some of them, those mechanics are:
- folks here try to figure out who the folks on the other side are they need to get ahold of
- one agency here tries to talk to another agency there
- they basically have to do puppydog eyes and beg
- the other agency can tell them to get fucked if they want

and that entire exchange makes it into the news articles, cuz both agencies get credit

@bhhaskin @floriann the best examples of these sorts of things are when american law enforcement goes after csam peddlers in another country. they'll usually mention that it was like, interpol or whoever they worked with, and that'll be clearly written about as such.

but this article only mentions proton, and the fbi

which, again, says they worked directly.
and if thats the case

proton turned over logs without any "legal pressure to". willingly.

@Viss @bhhaskin @floriann "subscriber information received from the Swiss Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty Unit" - so the FBI basically asked the Swiss police, that got the data and forwarded it back under the umbrella of a long standing treaty between the countries/authrities. This should not be surprising at all btw, but somehow for many VPN customers it is.
@buherator @floriann @Viss @bhhaskin well crypto is also supported, here is their response from LI:

@obivan @buherator @floriann @Viss @bhhaskin

Yes, that's exactly what I would expect. I don't understand those who are outraged. Companies have to follow legislations.

@CravateRouge @buherator @floriann @Viss @bhhaskin right, I don't see how this is different from any other privacy focused company. What else is there, gift card payment suport?
@obivan @CravateRouge @floriann @Viss @bhhaskin Yes, the donation page of Anna's Archive is quite educational.

My point is exactly that these businesses couldn't exist if they actually lived up their users expectations (that are mostly set by the same providers via marketing).
@buherator @CravateRouge @floriann @Viss @bhhaskin a company can comply with the law or not, but everything else is user issue.
@buherator @CravateRouge @obivan @Viss @bhhaskin though crypto currency is probably the exact opposite of anonymity.