{
  "id": 1947492,
  "title": "Proton VPN usage spikes in Brazil amid Discord feature block",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/proton-vpn-usage-spikes-in-brazil-amid-discord-feature-block",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-19T13:53:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-services/proton-vpn-usage-spikes-in-brazil-amid-discord-feature-block"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Proton VPN usage has surged in Brazil following Discord's restriction of video and Go Live features. The data protection authority in Brazil mandated the block in an effort to protect minors, specifically after a tragic incident where a teenage girl was encouraged to take her own life on the platform. Proton VPN's free app witnessed an 800% surge in sign-ups originating from Brazil immediately after the restrictions were implemented. Users are turning to VPNs as a workaround to bypass the geo-blocks, with Proton VPN offering a robust free tier with unlimited data. The company's spokesperson confirmed the peak in sign-ups occurred during the initial hourly demand, with the premium subscription costing $2.99 per month. This incident highlights the growing reliance on privacy tools when digital habits are interrupted, as users quickly adopt VPN services to maintain normal online routines.",
  "summary": "Proton VPN is seeing a massive surge in usage across Brazil after regulators forced Discord to suspend its video and streaming features to protect minors.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "TechRadar",
        "title": "Proton VPN usage spikes in Oman amid suspected TikTok block",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/proton-vpn-usage-spikes-in-oman-amid-suspected-tiktok-block",
        "published": "2026-08-17T16:14:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arabian Business",
        "title": "HONOR reroutes China-to-UAE smartphone shipments via Oman and Saudi Arabia amid regional tensions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/honor-reroutes-china-to-uae-smartphone-shipments-via-oman-and-saudi",
        "published": "2026-08-18T16:41:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}