**Proton's Lifetime Account Raffle Raises $1.27 Million for Digital Rights Advocates**
The digital rights landscape has taken a significant hit in recent times, with the Trump administration withdrawing support from 66 internet freedom organizations. However, amidst this backdrop of uncertainty, Proton has emerged as a beacon of hope, raising an impressive $1.27 million for digital-rights advocates through its 2025 Lifetime Account Charity Fundraiser.
This campaign was more than just a fundraising effort; it showcased the company's commitment to safeguarding online freedom and privacy. By offering 10 exclusive Proton Lifetime accounts, over 100,000 ticket purchases were made by more than 50,000 participants. The Proton Foundation added an additional $200,000 from its reserves, pushing the total contribution well beyond the $1.2 million milestone.
This generosity is part of a larger trend. Since 2018, Proton has charitably donated over $5 million in grants to aligned organizations, cementing its reputation as one of the best VPN and secure email providers. The pooled money will now be divided among ten community-selected beneficiaries, with a portion also allocated to past grant recipients who continue to champion privacy, free speech, and an open internet.
Proton's commitment to digital rights is unwavering, evident in its ongoing efforts to combat surveillance and censorship. Beyond the grants, the company provides all its applications for free – especially to support people living in places where privacy is under threat – backs open-source tools that safeguard online freedom, and takes a leading role in combating surveillance and censorship.
The ten organizations chosen by the Proton community for the 2025 fundraiser span the full spectrum of digital rights work. European Digital Rights (EDRi) and Société Numérique (Digitale Gesellschaft) lead the human-rights advocacy effort, using litigation and policy campaigns to protect freedom of expression and personal privacy across Europe.
Other notable recipients include:
- The NLnet Foundation, which focuses on open-source security and resilient internet infrastructure
- Witness Org, Lighthouse Reports, The Insider, and Transparency International, investigative journalism and transparency organizations that rely on secure communications to uncover abuse, corruption, and state-run surveillance
- Center for Humane Technology and Open Markets Institute, which drive ethical technology and public interest research, promoting responsible product design, algorithmic accountability, and competition policies
- Hack Club, a youth-focused organization that runs civic-education programmes, equipping the next generation with the knowledge and skills needed to protect their digital rights
Proton's multi-front approach to safeguarding online freedom involves not only fundraising efforts but also providing open-source, privacy-first tools at no cost for everyone. Proton VPN Free offers unlimited data and a strict no-logs policy, while Proton Mail delivers end-to-end encrypted email. The company also provides up to 5 GB of encrypted cloud storage free with Proton Drive and allows users to store passwords and other credentials safely with end-to-end encryption using Proton Pass.
During elections and periods of political censorship, Proton has even deployed free VPN servers so people can access uncensored news and information. This commitment to safeguarding online freedom extends to the company's push for legal and regulatory change, as it co-founded advocacy coalitions like the Coalition for Competitive Digital Markets and the Coalition for App Fairness.
Proton's efforts are a testament to its core mission: safeguarding a free, private, and open internet for everyone. With this fundraising campaign, Proton has taken a significant step towards ensuring that online rights remain protected in the face of growing threats to digital freedom.
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**About the Author**
Mark is a Tech Security Writer for TechRadar and has been published on Comparitech and IGN. He graduated with a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Lincoln and spent several years teaching English as a foreign language in Spain.