BlackBerry phones are making a comeback as more people seek the simplicity of a "dumb phone" that respects user privacy and offers secure, end-to-end encrypted communication.

If Proton AG acquired BlackBerry's intellectual property and resumed manufacturing the classic models that users love—with modern hardware upgrades and Proton's privacy-focused software—it would attract a large audience. Even more impactful would be if Proton developed its own privacy-first mobile operating system to challenge the Apple-Google duopoly, giving people worldwide a genuine alternative to the two tech giants that currently dominate the global smartphone market.

There is a clear surge in demand for "dumb phones," especially BlackBerrys with their iconic physical QWERTY keyboards that so many users miss. Smartphones have evolved from distinctive, functional devices into tools that spy on us, collect vast amounts of personal data without transparency, and fuel addiction through social media and endless scrolling. Proton is uniquely positioned to reverse this trend. It would be fitting—and sweet—justice, especially given that BlackBerry ultimately succumbed to pressure and released its final phone models running Android OS.