We’re happy to announce that, with your support, the 2020 Lifetime account auction and raffle raised approximately $300,000 for good causes around the world!
The three Lifetime accounts that we auctioned went for about $14,500 each, while 15,348 raffle tickets were sold raising an additional $154,380. On top of this, Proton will be contributing an additional $100,000 (approximately) for a total donation of about $300,000 to The Markup, noyb, Thirst Project, EDRi, Tails, and IFJ’s Safety Fund.
This is a significant contribution to organizations working to build a better internet and world, especially in a year when many funding sources scaled back. These organizations were nominated by the Proton community, and below we discuss their work and why they were selected.
But first it’s time to announce the raffle winners! The winning Lifetime account raffle tickets are:
2020LIFETIME3338
2020LIFETIME5832
2020LIFETIME1145
We will be contacting the auction and raffle winners over the next week to present them with their Lifetime account and also a special present from our team.
Please check the email you received from the ProtonShop to see your raffle ticket number(s). We will be contacting the winners, but you can also reach us at media@proton.me.
About the Proton Lifetime account auction and raffle
This is the third Lifetime account auction we have held (and our first Lifetime account raffle). In 2018(new window), we raised $45,000, and in 2019(new window), we raised over $60,000 (including Proton’s matching contribution). Adding in this year’s auction and raffle, and our summer campaign to support internet freedom in Hong Kong, our community has donated over $500,000 to date to create a better internet and a more equitable society.
In addition to supporting good causes, the auction and raffle winners receive our most exclusive account — the Lifetime Account — which entitles owners to the highest subscription plan for all existing and future Proton products, forever. Lifetime Accounts are transferable, and their value has increased as Proton has added more products and features.
This year, we added a raffle to lower the barrier to participate and make it easier for more people to have a chance to win a Lifetime account. The raffle was a great success, raising over $150,000 on its own.
Thank you again to all Proton community members who placed bids in this year’s auction or bought tickets in the raffle. As usual, 100% of proceeds are being donated (along with a $100,000 contribution from Proton), and this will go a long way towards supporting these organizations in a most difficult year.
You can still support these organizations
The Proton community already contributes to a better world in numerous ways: promoting online privacy and freedom is helping to create an internet that puts people first. Our annual charity fundraiser is a way to increase our impact across a broader range of the issues we care about. Even if you missed this year’s Lifetime auction and raffle, you can still donate directly to the organizations via the links below.
The Markup
The Markup(new window)’s slogan aptly describes its mission: “Big Tech is Watching You. We’re Watching Big Tech.” This mission is more critical today than ever before. It performs valuable data-driven journalism to investigate tech companies and makes its datasets publicly available. They also refuse to employ privacy-invading ads, something that we at Proton respect.
Do(new window)nate to The Markup(new window)
Noyb
Noyb, or None of Your Business(new window), is a privacy enforcement non-governmental organization founded by privacy activist Max Schrems. Noyb has assembled a team of legal experts who use strategic litigation against corporations to highlight privacy violations. As a European company, we have closely monitored Schrems’s work getting the Safe Harbor and Privacy Shield data transfer agreements between the EU and the US overturned.
Do(new window)nate to noyb(new window)
Thirst Project
The Thirst Project(new window) is a nonprofit organization that dedicates 100% of its donations to drilling wells in developing countries. Since 2008, Thirst Project has completed over 3,000 projects in 13 countries, supplying over 400,000 people with clean water.
Donate to Thirst Project(new window)
EDRi
The European Digital Rights(new window) network comprises academics, advocates, researchers, and civil rights organizations that fight to protect all Europeans’ digital rights. They are a trusted resource we turn to when it comes to evaluating proposed EU privacy laws.
Tails
Tails is a portable operating system(new window) 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.
IFJ’s Safety Fund
The International Federation of Journalists’ Safety Fund(new window) is an emergency safety net, providing financial assistance to journalists who face violence, persecution, illness, or exile due to their work.
Donate to IFJ’s Safety Fund(new window)
Thank you
The overwhelming success of this year’s auction and raffle proves what we have always known to be true: by working together and staying true to our principles, the Proton community can change the world. On behalf of each of these organizations and those who benefit from their work, thank you for making this fundraiser a major bright spot in this challenging year.
You can get a free secure email account from Proton Mail here(new window).
We also provide a free VPN service(new window) to protect your privacy. Proton Mail and Proton VPN(new window) are funded by community contributions. If you would like to support our development efforts, you can upgrade to a paid plan(new window). Thank you for your support.
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