Proton’s New Docs Fortifies Privacy In Collaborative Editing

In today’s cyber security-focused corporate world, businesses have replaced the repetitive task of emailing files with collaborative platforms and shared working practices.

This includes having multiple users work on one document instead of managing numerous iterations and versions. This new method offers them enhanced productivity, reduced confusion and chaos and quicker delivery of products. 

However, one concern observed is user and data privacy and security or rather, the lack of it. 

This is what Proton AG, the Geneva, Switzerland-based company founded in 2014 by a team of scientists who met at CERN, is looking to overcome with its privacy-focused suite of products.

Recently, the company launched its latest product, an online document editor – Proton Docs. This editor helps users protect their personal data and sensitive information.

So, what’s its new editor all about? Let’s explore!
 

What Is Proton Docs About?

 

• Through a blog post published on its website, Proton announced its latest product – Proton Docs. 

• Proton Docs is a new collaborative document editing application that’s integrated into the company’s Proton Drive service.

• The online editor offers end-to-end encryption (E2EE) and is focused on putting user privacy first.

• It’s built on the same privacy and security principles as Proton’s other services, which include products such as Proton Mail (email), Proton Calendar (planner + scheduler), Proton VPN (virtual private network services), Proton Pass (password manager) and Proton Drive (cloud storage).

• Users can begin using Docs by creating a free Proton Drive account.

• The move came as Proton recognized a wide range of challenges and security and privacy issues in the current products on offer.

 

What Challenges Did Proton Observe In Current Online Document Editors?

 

• Proton finds that the current services offered by Big Tech lacks sufficient privacy practices for the “billions of people using online document editors”.

• As a result, such companies can track their online activities, gain access to user content and collect data and personal information to train “privacy-invading” AI models.

• In addition to mass data collection, such platforms don’t provide end-to-end encryption by default, leaving users at risk of data breaches.

• Furthermore, as Proton is headquartered in Switzerland, it isn’t subject to the “bulk surveillance and lax data protection laws” observed in data centers located in and owned by companies headquartered in the US.

• This includes surpassing the “warrantless surveillance and data sharing” of the government and third parties.

• As per a blog post released following the one announcing the launch of Proton Docs, the company reported that Google often uses misleading privacy claims and prefers to settle lawsuits totaling billions of dollars rather than uphold user privacy.

• This includes Google settling a $93 million lawsuit in 2023, where it continued tracking user location data despite having the location history setting turned off. It also settled a $5 billion class-action lawsuit in 2020, where it collected user data from its incognito browser.

• Additionally, Google’s Privacy Policy doesn’t include any rules preventing it from collecting user data to train AI models or for advertising, including content created, uploaded or received on its platforms, including Google Drive.

 

What Features Does Proton Docs Offer?

 

• As per the blog post, Proton Docs allows users to collaborate in real time, leave comments, add photos, easily upload and download documents and store files securely and with utmost privacy.

• So much so that even keystrokes and cursor movements are encrypted. 

• The platform allows users to create and edit documents with privacy.

• Documents can be shared with others to view or edit through one-click invitations and collaborate in real time, with changes visible immediately and comments visible to all contributors.

• This includes displaying seeing who else is viewing or editing documents, which comes with cursor and presence indicators. 

 

What Did Proton Say?

 

• Through the blog post, Anant Vijay, the Senior Product Manager for Proton Mail and Proton Drive, said, “Docs is a milestone in our journey to building a better internet where privacy is the default.”

• [Contd.] “It is the first collaborative document editor that combines open source end-to-end encryption within a secure ecosystem that includes email, cloud storage, calendar, and more, so you can break away from Big Tech services that exploit your data.”

• Vijay added, “With Proton Drive and Docs, you now have a secure, privacy-first cloud storage and productivity alternative. If you’re working in law firms or healthcare, you can draft contracts and manage patient data in compliance with privacy laws.”

• [Contd.] “Journalists, content creators, and entrepreneurs can keep their projects protected from data leaks and Big Tech surveillance (no AI snooping on your work). Whether for work or for personal use, Proton Drive ensures your documents remain safe and private.”

Do you think Proton will be able to challenge Google’s suite, Microsoft’s 365 apps and other companies in the office productivity suite market with its Proton Drive service and Proton Docs application? Do you think Google and others should enforce stricter privacy practices and standards?

Let us know in the comments below!