Proton’s switch to ownership via a non-profit leaves me with deep concerns. I’m a resident/citizen of the US, and in the US it is possible for a determined outside hostile party to takeover a non-profit organization. Hostile takeover of non-profits has occurred many times in the US. Left-leaning activist organizations with government/NGO backing are many times the parties initiating the takeovers.
Proton’s core mission definitely puts it in the crosshairs of these kinds of takeover attempts.
I don’t know anything about Swiss legal structures for non-profits. How safe is the Proton Foundation for a takeover attempt? Can a determined activist organization get voted onto the board and engineer a takeover?
From: https://proton.me/foundation
Governance for people, not for profit
The Proton Foundation is a Swiss non-profit and does not have shareholders. It is therefore separated from individual financial interests and must act in the best interest of the Proton community in perpetuity. No change of control of Proton can occur without the consent of the Foundation, therefore enabling the Foundation to block hostile takeover attempts of Proton which are not aligned with our legal obligation to serve the community. Our role is to ensure that our community always comes first.