Link sharing: Add "Request Access" Approval for Shared Links (Google Drive-style)
Please add a "Request Access / Manual Approval" option for shared links in Proton Drive.
How it should work:
When someone clicks a shared link, they cannot immediately access the file / folder.
Instead, they see a button like "Request Access."
The owner receives a notification and can approve or deny each request, tied to the requester's email address.
Why this matters:
Prevents link leaks. Even if the URL is forwarded, only approved people get access.
Gives owners more granular control, without relying only on passwords or expiry dates.
Matches a feature users are already familiar with from Google Drive, making migration easier.
Optional enhancements:
Let owners revoke individual approvals later.
Combine with existing Proton Drive features like link expiry and passwords for layered security.
Allow domain restrictions (e.g. only @company.com accounts).
This would give Proton Drive one of the strongest and most user-friendly access control systems in the privacy-focused cloud market.
Elusive
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Update: For stronger privacy, the approval system could show only a masked alias or the requester's Proton display name instead of their full email address (e.g., kev****@proton.me). Optionally, users could choose how much identifying information to share when requesting access.
This preserves Proton's privacy-first design while still allowing file owners to recognize legitimate requesters and approve access safely.