One of the best VPN services around, Proton VPN users now have more ways to fight online censorship, without having to pay for it.
Switzerland-based VPN Proton has partnered with German news outlet Deutsche Welle (opens in a new tab) to provide users around the world with direct access to trusted, independent news content.
Specifically, the virtual private network provider has deployed a series of dedicated servers optimized to provide high-speed access to DW's websites and video content, as long as they are censored. Best of all, they are available to free and paid subscribers on all mobile and desktop apps.
This first-of-its-kind partnership is just the latest effort in a long line of ongoing commitments by Proton VPN to promote a free and secure Internet for all.
We've partnered with @DeutscheWelle to champion independent media around the world. Now all #ProtonVPN users can bypass government censorship and connect to #DeutscheWelle news sites via high-speed dedicated servers. Read more about it here: https://t.co/81tJ8dlCzP#vpn pic.twitter.com/FuNpparLyPMMarch 6, 2023
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Unlocking "access to the truth" worldwide
"Free access to information is under attack on a scale we've never seen before," said Andy Yen (opens in a new tab), founder and CEO of Proton. He continued: "DW has a long history of defending free speech, as does Proton VPN, and we look forward to working together to unlock access to the truth everywhere."
A Proton spokesperson told TechRadar that these dedicated servers offer DW content consumers in censored countries the speed and security of Proton's paid VPN servers, while remaining completely free. Countries where the media is currently banned include Turkey and Russia.
To access and use the servers, users must first download the Proton desktop or mobile app. Typing “news” into the server search bar will bring up a list of servers marked with a DW logo, whether you use their free or paid VPN service. Users can choose between servers located in the United States, the Netherlands, or Japan.
This alliance shows the commitment of the two companies in the defense of freedom of expression in the world; give people access to the information they need without censorship or surveillance.
There are three easy steps to access and use the servers:
Whether using Proton's free or paid VPN service, users can choose from dedicated DW servers based in the United States, the Netherlands, and Japan.
This partnership demonstrates the commitment of both companies to defending the right to freedom of expression around the world; give people access to the information they need without censorship or surveillance.
“We are very pleased to partner with a company that is as dedicated as we are at DW to protecting the online privacy of activists, journalists and others while providing them with free and unrestricted access to the open Internet,” says Guido Baumhauer (opens in a new tab), General Director of Sales, Marketing and Technology of DW.
He also praised the way Proton VPN handles user data, with very high security standards, as yet another reason to partner with the Swiss-based provider.
Proton has a long history of promoting Internet freedom. This includes a new obfuscated (stealth) VPN protocol to bypass censorship and alternate routing through its Secure Core technology, as well as a comprehensive privacy ecosystem; including a secure and encrypted email service, storage and calendar.
When asked about future initiatives, a Proton spokesperson told TechRadar: "We can't say if this will expand to other media organizations in the future, but what we can say is that we are fully committed to ensuring that as many people in everyone as possible can freely access the Internet and circumvent censorship and surveillance.”
We hope more VPN providers will do the same to support free speech and protect both truth seekers and journalists around the world.
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