This is why it's always struck me as unreasonable for proton to claim they care about user privacy. If they did, they wouldn't provide an email service, as it is inherently impossible to adaquately protect the metadata if it is sent to a different mail server. A better approach would be for them to explain why you can have email or privacy, but not both, and to point people to a separate service if they insist on email, so it is decoupled from any of their other services. Accepting payment through a means that isn't tied to your personal identity would be a good step too.

[–] JoshuaFalken@lemmy.world 24 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Accepting payment through a means that isn't tied to your personal identity would be a good step too.

They do accept bitcoin, and if that's not private enough, they also let you mail them cash in an envelope.

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Mailing cash is probably less private. Your mail is postmarked, and can be tracked. The serial numbers on the bills can be tracked too. Not to mention the envelope itself, fingerprints, possible DNA in the saliva when you licked it to seal it, your handwriting or printing to address it, how unique the stamp is...

[–] testaccount372920@piefed.zip 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Only if all that information is collected and stored. Digital finance systems tend to track every transaction and keep a record of them (because of legal requirements among other reasons). With cash in an envelope a government can't check all the info you suggested a year after the payment has happened, perhaps not even after a few days.

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 0 points 2 days ago

True. I'm thinking of what they can collect after they've already decided to target you.

[–] JoshuaFalken@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

Sorry frongt, but I think you're wrongt, haha. I don't think mailing cash is less private than other methods.

If anyone was concerned enough to the point they were sending cash, they might also take precaution to send coins instead of notes, wearing gloves when handling them, folding their own envelope - do people still lick envelopes anymore? - using lettering stamps instead of handwriting...

Forgive me for the joke on your username, made me laugh.

[–] SuspiciousFlop8964@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago

That's only a concern if Proton keeps all the envelopes people send them, and the authorities are willing to sift through them all and check the fingerprints on them one by one.

[–] bonenode@piefed.social 2 points 2 days ago

Ok, so in what other way should they allow anonymous payments?

[–] notabot@piefed.social 3 points 2 days ago

Ah, thats good to know, I looked at their signup page and it didn't have those options listed.