[southerntofu]

They could have refused to comply with an unfair request granted through back channels via the french political police and a landowner's mafia.

Go to court as a host, let the prosecutor present "proofs" that this person deserves to be prosecuted under international law, which they don't have because this is a clear case of political repression. Let the judge laugh at the ridicule of the case, or worst case scenario comply with the judge's order, which would hopefully give enough time to the targeted person to know they're a target by now and stop using Protonmail altogether (or do it via tor).

That's what a responsible host does. I don't have the same standard for smaller, non-profit hosts. But for a big organization with vast sums of money like Protonmail i would expect no less.

What's next, cooperating with chinese political police?

[windthrown]

The "request" came in the form of a legally binding order from the Swiss Federal Department of Justice.

They have stated that there was not a legal possiblity to challenge in this case after the Swiss DOJ made their determination.

You suggest "go to court" but there was apparently not a means to do so. Judges aren't private arbiters and don't hear random cases at the request of companies

[JumpCrisscross]

> refused to comply with an unfair request granted through back channels via the french political police

Your solution to a lawful request is covert backchanneling to the police of a foreign nation?

[southerntofu]

No, i meant that's how the request was granted in the first place.