Do not use a needle. Use something wood, like the toothpick you suggested, or plastic. The needle might damage the port.
Probably yes since they don't operate out of Switzerland. Sorry, couldn't resist! But they would probably comply with a German legal order.
What data? Here it is the IP address and only under order by authorities.I feel ever since the social media shitstorm people love to pile on Proton for anything. They never said they won't comply with law enforcment, did they?