On Wednesday, the internet privacy company Proton announced its plans to provide a network of free VPN servers for use in several countries holding elections this year, particularly those with a history of censorship and repression.
Based in Switzerland, Proton aims to assist local populations in circumventing government censorship and combatting interference or misinformation during election campaigns.
The company asserts that monitoring the demand for its VPN services serves as an early warning system for government crackdowns and attacks on freedom of speech.
Proton reported significant spikes in demand in various regions over the past year, including a 4,700 percent increase in Nepal, 6,000 percent in Pakistan, 25,000 percent in Gabon, and 100,000 percent in Senegal, all in response to political or civil unrest.
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Amidst a year when approximately half of the global population is expected to participate in elections, Proton deems it crucial to provide widespread access to virtual private network services, which enable users to bypass internet censorship and access information freely.
Countries such as Venezuela, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, and Turkey are among those where Proton plans to offer its free servers.
“2024 is poised to be a transformative year for democracy worldwide,” stated Proton chief Andy Yen. “Many of the countries holding elections have a dubious record regarding freedom of speech and fair electoral processes.”
He emphasized Proton’s commitment to safeguarding free speech and combating censorship, asserting that it is integral to their mission to assist voters worldwide in exercising their fundamental rights.
Proton, renowned for its encrypted email service, announced that it would provide free local servers to users appearing to log on from the country holding elections, two weeks before and after the key events.
The technical implementation of these servers will vary depending on the circumstances in each country, with Proton utilizing its “smart routing technology” to offer VPN servers in nations where a physical presence is unfeasible.
These servers, though located in nearby areas, can effectively bypass government censorship, enabling local users to access the internet freely and at high speeds without overloading servers with traffic from other regions.
