Proton VPN Observatory (2026)
Documenting spikes in Proton VPN use as people fight for online freedom.
A secure, trustworthy VPN is an essential tool for bypassing internet censorship. At Proton VPN, we regularly see signups spike following major geopolitical events around the world, be they protests, contested elections, or government crackdowns. To see how people worldwide fight internet censorship, we’ve begun documenting all significant spikes in Proton VPN usage.
Egypt - January 11, 2026
+320% increase over baseline
Increase in signups amid reports of Discord being blocked by several ISPs. This follows recent trends of Egypt restricting some social and VoIP platforms in an attempt to suppress emerging youth-led activism.
Venezuela - January 3, 2026
+770% increase over baseline
Sudden surge in signups in the country following the U.S. military strikes on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
Proton VPN's mission is to ensure freedom of speech and fight online censorship everywhere. We're proud to stand up for online freedom and enable people to access a free and open internet.