German international service Deutsche Welle (DW) partners with Swiss virtual private network (VPN) provider Proton to offer its audience a secure way to access its content and the free, open Internet.
Proton is one of the only virtual private network (VPN) providers with a “no logs policy”, according to DW, adding that this means Proton does not track or record the online activity of their users and does not disclose this information to third parties. The company is based in Switzerland and is subject to some of the world’s strictest data privacy laws, according to DW, adding that due to Switzerland’s special status as a neutral nation, no other governments can force Proton to divulge any information, either.
“We are very happy to be partnering with a company that is just as dedicated as we at DW are to protecting the online privacy of activists, journalists and others while providing them with free, unrestricted access to the open Internet,” said Guido Baumhauer, Managing Director of Distribution, Marketing and Technology at DW. “And the fact that they handle their users’ data according to very high security standards is a definite plus, enabling us to recommend to our users to work with Proton as well.”
The DW logo will be visible to Proton users when they choose the DW sponsored server. This will provide them with direct, unlimited, high-speed access to the DW website including all livestreaming and video-on-demand content. Conversely, DW will promote the VPN through its offerings to its own users – especially those in markets experiencing Internet censorship.
“With Proton, we have another invaluable tool to work against Internet censorship that is already in high use in censored markets,” says Ingo Mannteufel, Head of IT and Cybersecurity at DW. “Thanks to its secure core architecture, high-strength, end-to-end encryption and other advanced security features, Proton VPN provides users with a robust and reliable way to circumvent Internet censorship around the world.”
Andy Yen, Founder and CEO of Proton, said: “Free access to information is under attack on a scale that we haven’t seen before. Authoritarian governments the world over are routinely censoring and blocking international news outlets, limiting their citizens’ access to information and shutting down dissent. It’s vital today to stand up for the rights of those living under these regimes. DW has a long history of defending free speech, as does Proton VPN, and we’re looking forward to working together to unblock access to the truth everywhere in the world.”
Proton VPN offers a secure VPN that sends users’ internet traffic through an encrypted VPN tunnel, so their passwords and confidential data stay safe regardless of the internet connection. The partnership began with a soft launch last quarter, enabling users around the world to make use of the offering.
