The encryption and decryption of messages works in the same way as traditional PGP but happens automatically in the client's browser, rather than requiring them to download any software. ProtonMail allows users to send end-to-end encrypted emails to people without having to deal with things such as private and public encryption keys. 'We'll know in a month or two what the outcome of that is.' 'Do people want to pay for privacy?' Yen said. Yen told Motherboard in a phone call that the company has now shifted from a Wikipedia-style donations model to one that offers paid, premium accounts to members for additional features. The company claims that 1 million people have participated in its beta program, which was apparently spurred on by an 'overwhelming demand' for the service when it first launched in 2014. 'Do people want to pay for privacy? We'll know in a month or two what the outcome of that is.' 'This way, we put the choice in the hands of the consumer, and not government regulators.' 'The best way to ensure that encryption and privacy rights are not encroached upon is to get the tools into the hands of the public as soon as possible and widely distributing them,' Andy Yen, co-founder and CEO of ProtonMail, said in a statement.

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