Proton now offers free VPN servers to combat government censorship and misinformation during elections.
With over 60 countries set to head to the polls this year, Proton said it’s important for voters to be able to access information freely. This initiative particularly focuses on countries with a history of internet censorship and political interference, like Pakistan, Turkey, Senegal, and Indonesia.
Proton’s new initiative will allow voters to freely access news outlets, social media, and other resources that might otherwise be blocked. This service will be available in selected countries two weeks before elections and one week after. The timeline for availability may change depending on how events unfold in the country.
“At Proton, our mission is to build a better internet where privacy and freedom are the default. We view democracy and democratic values as the best way to preserve the right to privacy and personal liberty,” Proton said in a blog post on Wednesday.
Free Anti-Censorship VPN Servers
Proton’s free anti-censorship VPN servers are available in several countries with histories of internet censorship and political interference, including:
- Indonesia: Known for its occasional internet blackouts in regions experiencing political unrest.
- Cambodia: Has a track record of restricting access to independent news outlets and social media platforms around elections.
- Pakistan: Regular government-imposed social media blackouts during political and security crises.
- Senegal: We’ve seen instances of internet restrictions and social media blocks during protests and political tensions.
- Turkey: Known to block VPN services and conduct widespread censorship of websites and social media, particularly around elections and during periods of political sensitivity.
- Rwanda: Controls and monitors internet use, with instances of blocking access to opposition and independent news sites.
The other countries Proton currently offers free anti-censorship servers include Togo, Chad, Mauritania, Rwanda, Mozambique, Somaliland, Mauritius, Algeria, Venezuela, and Sri Lanka. Proton said it may add other countries to this list depending on political developments.
To overcome legal and infrastructural barriers in countries with stringent internet restrictions, Proton is using Smart Routing technology. This allows Proton to use servers in neighboring countries and simulate the IP address of the country in question.
According to Proton, these free anti-censorship VPN servers, provisioned through “trusted partners,” are as safe as other Proton VPN servers and offer the same security and features.
How Proton VPN Fights Censorship
Proton VPN has several advanced features to protect users’ online privacy and combat surveillance and censorship.
These include alternative routing through third-party services like AWS, smart protocol for auto-switching to VPN protocols that are more difficult to block, a stealth VPN protocol that disguises your connection as regular internet traffic, and a VPN accelerator for faster browsing speeds even on distant servers.
Last year, Proton launched a VPN Observatory to offer real-time insights into global VPN usage spikes, reflecting anti-censorship activities.
Proton VPN is ranked high on our list of the best free VPNs. The provider is known for its fast speeds, solid encryption, and its commitment to no logging.
Check out our Proton VPN review for an in-depth rundown of this VPN service.
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