Swiss-based internet privacy firm, Proton, revealed its intention on Wednesday to furnish a network of complimentary VPN servers for nations with imminent elections, where censorship and repression prevail as significant concerns.

Proton emphasized that tracking the demand for its VPN services aids in early detection of government crackdowns on freedom of speech.

The endeavor aims to aid local populations in circumventing government censorship and countering misinformation during election periods.

Over the previous year, Proton noted substantial surges in demand for its VPN services, notably in Nepal, Pakistan, Gabon, and Senegal, in response to political or civil disturbances. Proton identified Venezuela, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, and Turkey among the countries where it plans to offer free servers during elections.

Given the global importance of elections in 2024, Proton stressed the significance of providing widespread access to VPN services to evade internet censorship and access information freely.

In addition to its encrypted email service, Proton indicated that it would furnish free local servers to users in election countries two weeks before and after pivotal elections, employing smart routing technology to bypass government constraints.

Andy Yen, CEO of Proton, underscored the crucial role of safeguarding freedom of speech and combating censorship in advancing democratic processes worldwide.