We advance society by advancing freedom
At Proton, our social mission is at the heart of all we do. We believe in building an internet that works for people and not just for profit. But our work extends beyond our mission and service offering.
Proton provides free and open-source technology to millions of people and organizations to expand access to privacy, security, and freedom online.
Without privacy, there can be no freedom of speech, and without freedom of speech, there can be no democracy. This principle guides the non-profit Proton Foundation which supervises all of our activities globally.
Direct action for a better world
Since 2018, we partner with the Proton community to identify and fund important projects that are helping to build the kind of world we want to live in. All proceeds raised through a combination of auctions, raffles, and Proton’s own donations of up to $250k, go to community-nominated organizations promoting privacy, free speech, and human rights.
We've distributed over $5 million in direct grants to more than 50 vetted organizations
Some of the organizations we have supported are listed below.
European Digital Rights is a leading network of NGOs, experts, advocates, and academics working to defend and advance digital rights, such as privacy, freedom of expression, and non-discrimination, across Europe. It coordinates 40+ members and advocates to influence laws on surveillance, AI, platform regulation, and other core digital rights issues.
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that intends to promote and protect human rights internationally. Headquartered in New York City, HRF works to hold dictators accountable, support dissidents in closed societies, and organize the annual Oslo Freedom Forum to raise awareness about authoritarian regimes.
WITNESS is a global human rights organization that helps people use video to document truth, defend rights, and hold power accountable in an era increasingly shaped by AI. WITNESS equips activists, journalists, and fact-checkers with the tools, skills, and strategies needed to verify video, counter manipulated media, and protect critical voices.
CHT is an independent nonprofit founded in 2018 by Tristan Harris, Aza Raskin, and Randima Fernando. It works to realign technology with human well-being by addressing growing societal risks posed by generative AI and other consequential technologies, and by developing interventions to reduce harm, inform public debate, and influence policy.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center is a D.C.-based non-profit research organization working to protect privacy, freedom of expression, and democratic values in the information age. EPIC focuses on advocacy, AI policy, surveillance, and litigation to tip the scales of power on the internet in favor of the people who use it.
Access Now is an international non-profit organization that defends and extends the digital civil rights of users at risk worldwide. Headquartered in New York, it provides 24/7 technical support via its Digital Security Helpline, campaigns against internet shutdowns,, and hosts the annual RightsCon conference.
Bits of Freedom is a Dutch foundation whose mission is to influence legislation and policy in the Netherlands and the EU. It focuses on the advancement of two rights: freedom of communication and privacy. The group researches new legislation and new technology and translates its insights into policy advice, campaigns, awareness-raising and legal action.
The Open Markets Institute is an independent nonprofit founded in 2017 that counters monopolization and strengthens democracy through competition policy. It uses research, journalism, and legal analysis to expose harms of concentrated corporate power, especially digital platform monopolies, and to advance policies for open, competitive markets.
La Quadrature du Net promotes and defends fundamental freedoms in the digital world. LQDN is a Paris-based activist group that fights against censorship and surveillance, promoting a free, decentralized, and emancipatory internet through legal and political monitoring, lobbying, public awareness campaigns, and the development of practical tools.
Freedom House is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to create a world where all are free. Their work informs the world about threats to freedom, mobilizes global action, and supports democracy’s defenders. Freedom House’s annual Freedom on the Net report documents threats to encryption and privacy in 72 countries.
Xnet is an activist platform founded in 2008 working on digital rights, networked democracy, freedom of expression and information, whistleblower protection, and anti-corruption. It does policy advocacy via legislative proposals and viral campaigns, and is a member of EDRi.
Digitale Gesellschaft (Société Numérique) is a Swiss nonprofit advocating for civil rights, consumer protection, and digital self-determination. It critiques surveillance tech, opposes risky e-health dossiers and platform regulations lacking teeth, and pushes for digital sovereignty via open-source public infrastructure.
Transparency International is a global anti-corruption movement exposing corruption and holding power to account. Based in Berlin with 100+ national chapters, it combines research, advocacy, and campaigning to promote transparency, accountability, and stronger anti-corruption laws across public and private sectors.
Privacy International is a London-based registered charity that fights for the global right to privacy. PI investigates how governments and corporations use technology through investigations, litigation, and policy advocacy, demanding accountability and aiming to protect people from exploitation in the digital age.
Fight for the Future is a nonprofit digital rights advocacy group founded in 2011, dedicated to ensuring technology empowers rather than oppresses. Operating remotely with a team of activists, technologists, and creatives, they launch high-profile campaigns against online censorship, surveillance, and more.
GrapheneOS is a free and open-source, privacy and security focused, Android-based operating system for Google Pixel smartphones, tablets and foldable devices. It is developed by the GrapheneOS Foundation, a Canadian nonprofit corporation and it focuses on researching and improving the privacy and security of Android.
The Tech Oversight Project is a US-based advocacy organization dedicated to holding major technology companies accountable for anti-competitive practices and societal harms. It engages with lawmakers and decision-makers to counter misleading narratives, expose detrimental actions by tech giants, and advocate for comprehensive antitrust legislation.
NLnet is an independent nonprofit foundation that supports an open, secure internet. NLnet funds and advises independent developers and organizations working on shared digital infrastructure. It provides microgrants, expertise, and access to a global network, with all supported work released as free and open-source software.
WireGuard® is a next-generation VPN protocol that promises to be simpler, faster, more stable, and potentially more secure than its predecessors, such as IPsec and OpenVPN. Founded in 2015, the project is open source and community supported, receiving funding from individuals, nonprofits, and tech companies.
NOYB (short for "None of Your Business") is a non-profit organization founded by activist Max Schrems to enforce digital privacy rights. Supported by over 5,000 members, noyb uses strategic litigation and advocacy to ensure companies comply with GDPR and ePrivacy regulations. It focuses on commercial privacy violations by major tech firms.
Ranking Digital Rights is a research initiative that evaluates the policies and practices of the world’s most powerful tech and telecom companies regarding user privacy and freedom of expression. It ranks companies based on 58 indicators, providing a scorecard on how they handle user data and content moderation.
Tor is a nonprofit whose mission is to advance human rights and freedoms by creating and deploying free and open source anonymity and privacy technologies, supporting their unrestricted availability and use, and furthering their scientific and popular understanding. The group’s Tor Browser enables private and uncensored web browsing.
Tactical Tech is an international NGO that engages with citizens and civil society organizations to explore and mitigate the impacts of technology on society. Based in Berlin, the organization designs experiences, events and educational resources that invite people to think about how technology influences their lives.
The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a charity founded in 2001 that helps users control technology. Free Software gives everyone rights to use, study, adapt, and share software, supporting freedoms like speech, press, and privacy. FSFE promotes freedom, transparency, and self-determination for users and organizations.
OpenStreetMap is a collaborative project that creates a free, editable map of the world, built by a community of mappers who contribute and maintain data about roads, trails, cafés, railway stations, and much more. OSM has grown into a global initiative dedicated to encouraging the distribution of free geospatial data.
The World Wide Web Foundation is an international non-profit organization established in 2019 to fight for a web that is safe, empowering, and for everyone. It was founded by Tim Berners-Lee, a fellow CERN alumnus, inventor of the world wide web, and Proton Foundation board member since 2021.
NetBlocks is a London-based watchdog organization that monitors internet freedom, shutdowns, and cyber-attacks worldwide. Using web probes and network telemetry, it provides real-time, data-driven reports on digital rights, internet governance, and censorship, often cited by major media outlets and international organizations.
Tails is a portable operating system that expands the protection of the Tor network to your entire computer. You can download Tails onto a USB stick and then plug that USB into any computer and use it without leaving a trace, making Tails an essential anti-censorship and privacy tool for journalists and activists.