I can't tell if this was a "just because we wanted to" or a "court order" kind of handing over.

"Helped" is a curious choice of words, they can't ignore court orders just like any corporate digital services provider.

All of the responses to this story seem to emphasize the legality of the court order, but that highlights the risk of the modern era: governments acting unethically, immorally, and leveraging the law to forward those goal. And if business will always capitulate, then ultimately they are an extension of that state authority - not a servant of the customer.

In the end, privacy becomes a brand, but not a reality.

If about to fight City Hall, best to pay only in cash and never tie up online accounts with actual personal identity.

Proton's response