this post was submitted on 16 Jan 2025
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/37218429

When called out on it, they then doubled down on this dogshit take: https://archive.ph/quYyb

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[–] ChicagoTransplant@midwest.social 162 points 5 days ago (2 children)

The initial post could just be chalked up to naivety if we're feeling charitable, but using the official proton accounts for this stuff is an extremely bad move. Then half-assedly retracting it without acknowledging he posted it, doubling down, and making every classic PR mistake. Aside from potential capitulation to a regime that clearly values power more than human rights, there's significant risk from a person with such bad judgement having apparently no safeguards or second opinions when he's posting. What other decisions is he unilaterally making for proton that aren't publicly known?

[–] db2@lemmy.world 78 points 5 days ago

He's another mini Elon wannabe, obviously. They're coming out of the woodwork lately.

I hope people are taking notes so these scum don't get to skate later when it falls down around their ears.

[–] YarHarSuperstar@lemmy.world 16 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

This is basically my thinking and why I will be shifting away from their products as well

[–] NotSteve_@lemmy.ca 30 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Me being too lazy and putting off switching to Proton has paid off!

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[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 70 points 5 days ago

This comment right here absolutely nails it.

The Republicans have installed a Supreme Court that guts antitrust at every step, and Andy gives them a pass. Anyone that's that bloody oblivious of how the GOP have spent 25 years trying to remove consumer protections at every turn shouldn't be managing a popsicle stand, let alone an email service so many rely on to be private.

What a redundant muffin.

[–] letsgo2themall@lemmy.world 116 points 5 days ago (3 children)

Cancelled my years long subscription today. Any company that bows down to tRump should be avoided. Vote with your wallet.

[–] Sunshine@lemmy.ca 31 points 5 days ago

I did the same! No more proton unlimited! It is better to use products from multiple companies instead of one.

[–] Typhoonigator@lemmy.world 15 points 5 days ago (3 children)

Who did you switch to? I'm looking to leave proton too with all this.

[–] Sunshine@lemmy.ca 44 points 5 days ago (9 children)
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[–] myersguy@lemmy.simpl.website 17 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Also curious. I left Mullvad because they stopped supporting port forwarding. Proton seemed like the best second option privacy/feature/price wise at the time. IVPN was touted highly around that time, but it appears they have also phased out port forwarding

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[–] kandoh@reddthat.com 76 points 5 days ago

Guy who sells VPNs really supportive of political party that blocks parts of the internet regionally

[–] BroBot9000@lemmy.world 84 points 5 days ago (2 children)

The post was deleted and they are in cleanup mode. Best thing we can do is post this everywhere and demand a public apology and the firing of Andy Yen.

Otherwise end your subscriptions!

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 29 points 5 days ago

What is the Streisand effect?

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 16 points 5 days ago

We can demand his firing but unfortunately he's one of three founders, he's unlikely to be fired. But I hope it's a wakeup call to them that they should have a policy of keeping their mouth shut on politics, including all board members.

[–] latenightnoir@lemmy.world 78 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (5 children)

Grrrreat... Can anyone please suggest an alternative? I've switched to Proton trying to de-Google...

[–] ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net 69 points 5 days ago (10 children)

For Email: Posteo, Tutanota, Disroot

For VPN: Mullvad, AirVPN, IVPN

For password manager: Keypassxc, Bitwarden

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[–] nieminen@lemmy.world 8 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I've been looking at fastmail and tuta

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[–] Ganbat@lemmy.dbzer0.com 52 points 5 days ago

When called out on it, they then doubled down on this dogshit take:

That makes it seem like Andy here just doubled down, but it's way worse than that. The company released an official statement doubling down on Yen's stance.

[–] PanArab@lemm.ee 13 points 4 days ago

People here need to read about how fascism in Germany and Italy were good for business but terrible for the workers. About how the moneyed interests played a role in the rise of fascism in both as a defense mechanism against unions and socialism.

[–] Undearius@lemmy.ca 10 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I really don't understand this compulsion people have to publicly announce their political support.

Like, this guy could have just said nothing, literally just not do anything, and he'd be better off.

That's not how sucking up to fascists works though.

[–] TriflingToad@sh.itjust.works 15 points 4 days ago (3 children)

what the fuck???? literally HOW did he reach that conclusion
Anyone got a email site that won't shut down or turn fascist?

[–] dan@upvote.au 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

FastMail has been around a long time and they're very good. MXRoute is good too and lets you have unlimited email addresses at an unlimited number of domains (they only limit it based on storage space)

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[–] TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 40 points 5 days ago (1 children)

This is bewildering. What a shame.

I had minor gripes with some of their services but Proton has broadly been pretty great in my eyes.

Some CEOs baffle me. Surely, even if they are massive fans of one US political party over the other, they'd have the sense to keep it to themselves to prevent it becoming a thing that causes a fallout with existing/potential customers? But no. They're too fucking narcissistic for that, and they think everyone wants to hear their opinions and follow them.

[–] jrs100000@lemmy.world 22 points 5 days ago

Most of the companies/ceos doing this over the past few weeks do know better. That's why they didnt say anything earlier. The reason they would be publicly taking this stance now is that they either expect to be rewarded by the incoming administration, or they hope to avoid punitive retaliation.

[–] atx_aquarian@lemmy.world 49 points 5 days ago (1 children)

It seems obvious to me now.

Many US states are now requiring age verification for adult sites. VPN companies will benefit if that requirement expands. The Republican party's pearl-clutching politics are what can make that happen.

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 32 points 5 days ago (3 children)

Reminds me of the time the CEO of grindr said he opposed gay marriage.

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[–] therealjcdenton@lemmy.zip 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Is what he's saying true? That the antitrust laws he's referring to were started by trump?

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Bro, he's got Musk as a cabinet member and was put into the spotlight by Murdoch and Thiel, and his Supreme Court gives out handies to any CEO that asks.

If he did anti-trust anything it was either by accident, for revenge against a specific company, or intendes to be used as it was in the 1890's:

To bust unions.

https://www.britannica.com/event/Sherman-Antitrust-Act

[–] MysticKetchup@lemmy.world 44 points 5 days ago

Believing in any way that Republicans are helping out the little guy or against big business is so ridiculous I have to believe this is willful ignorance to cover up the fact that a lot more people will need VPNs with all the porn bans and other privacy nightmares the right will pass the next few years.

[–] Hellmo_Luciferrari@lemm.ee 33 points 5 days ago (6 children)

Cancelled my subscription today. I will be finding an alternative.

[–] ThePrivacyPolicy@lemmy.ca 11 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I had just signed up a few nights ago to try it out before subscribing, it's an easy cancel at this point and is being done momentarily.

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[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 12 points 4 days ago (10 children)

Support business policies of a group that removes oversight, accountability, responsibility, and makes it so he keeps more money.

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[–] treasoner@lemm.ee 8 points 4 days ago

Republicans haven’t stood for the little guy for at least….40 years?

[–] AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works 19 points 4 days ago

Canceled my sub last night, ported everything to Tuta today. No issues this far.

Super disappointing, but is what it is and I'll move on.

[–] Burn1ngBull3t@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I was looking to use ProtonVPN but since that story, i would prefer an alternative.

What do you guys use for VPN (i think i saw Mullvad in the replies ?)

[–] Sixtyforce@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 days ago

Mullvad

I thought they were wonderful. Until they got rid of port forwarding, which is the only reason why I was paying them: as a torrenting VPN.

If you don't need that feature, Mullvad is still great...they take privacy/security seriously! That's why they got rid of the feature I used haha.

They've also been put to the test and passed IMO:

https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/21/23692580/mullvad-vpn-raid-sweden-police

[–] Dead_or_Alive@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

I use PIA VPN.

[–] toiletobserver@lemmy.world 17 points 5 days ago (2 children)

So we're keeping Lina Kahn, right? RIGHT?

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[–] Rentlar@lemmy.ca 17 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Thank you for using a less charged title in the cross-post. It's concerning stuff coming from the Proton CEO and Andy Yen using the official account to amplify it. However, I disagreed with it being characterized as "Full MAGA".

[–] priapus@sh.itjust.works 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

It's a shame I have a year subscription to them. I'll be cancelling and moving the second it runs outs.

[–] 0x0@infosec.pub 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Cancel it now so you dont forget it while it autorenews.

[–] priapus@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 days ago

Already did!

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 12 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Anyone notice Trump clearly didn't write that, because it's clearly written? Remember how bugfuck he was getting over the last year and how we rarely see that anymore?

Just how bugfuck is he now and who's controlling him?

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