Protocol was founded in 2019 by Robert Allbritton, a media entrepreneur who also owns Politico. Allbritton launched Protocol with the vision of creating a technology-focused news outlet that would provide in-depth coverage of the people, power, and politics of tech. The idea was to offer a more nuanced and comprehensive look at the tech industry beyond just product reviews and startup news. In November 2022, Protocol was acquired by Axel Springer, a German digital publishing house, which also owns Politico. Based in San Francisco, California, Protocol primarily covers technology news, including the business of tech, policy issues affecting the industry, and the broader impact of technology on society. Their coverage spans topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, e-commerce, social media, and the future of work. While tech is their main focus, they also delve into how technology intersects with politics, finance, and culture. Protocol aims to provide both breaking news and long-form analysis of trends shaping the tech world. One interesting fact: Despite being a relatively new player in the tech journalism field, Protocol made waves by securing exclusive interviews with major tech figures. One of their most notable early successes was an in-depth interview with Mark Zuckerberg about Facebook's plans for the metaverse, which was published before the company's official rebranding as Meta. This demonstrated Protocol's ability to quickly establish itself as a significant voice in tech journalism.