Proton Mail and the Identification of an Activist

Proton Mail, known for its focus on privacy and end-to-end encryption, provided Swiss authorities with data that allowed the FBI to identify a person connected to the "Stop Cop City" movement in Atlanta. This movement protests against the construction of a police training center.

The information provided by Proton Mail included data related to the payment for the anonymous email account "defendtheatlantaforest@protonmail.com". The FBI obtained this information through a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with Switzerland.

Details of the Case

According to court documents, the FBI received information identifying a specific person as the payment source for the Proton Mail account. The email address was publicly listed as the primary contact on the Facebook page of the "Defend the Atlanta Forest" (DTAF) group.

Proton Mail stated that it provided the information only after a legally binding order from the Swiss authorities, after verifying that all Swiss legal requirements had been met. The company clarified that it accepts payments via cryptocurrencies, cash, and credit cards. In the case of payment by credit card, Proton Mail has access to the payment identifier, which can be used to identify the cardholder.

Background

The "Stop Cop City" movement has organized protests against the construction of a large police training center near Intrenchment Creek Park in Atlanta. The protests have included camping in the forest and lawsuits. Previously, 61 people connected to the movement had been charged with racketeering under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, but the charges were later dropped.