Proton Mail and VPN services

Proton is a globally recognized suite of privacy-focused online services, including Proton Mail, Proton VPN, Proton Drive, and Proton Calendar. The brand was founded in 2014 by a team of scientists who met at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) and shared a vision of making online privacy accessible to everyone. The project was initially crowdfunded, highlighting its community-driven roots and commitment to independence.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Proton benefits from some of the world's strongest privacy laws, which are outside the jurisdiction of both the United States and the European Union. The infrastructure is primarily based in Switzerland, where its servers are housed in high-security data centers, often deep underground. This geographical and legal positioning is a core component of its brand identity, ensuring that user data is protected by Swiss neutrality and stringent data protection regulations.

Ownership of the brand remains predominantly within the Proton Foundation, a non-profit entity established to ensure the company stays true to its mission of defending digital freedom. Unlike many tech giants, Proton is not beholden to advertisers or venture capital interests that might compromise user privacy. This unique structure ensures that the ultimate owner is the Swiss-based foundation, reinforcing its long-term stability and commitment to end-to-end encryption.