“We would be less confidential than Google” – Proton threatens to leave Switzerland about a new surveillance legislation
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- Proton CEO confirmed that the company will leave Switzerland as new controversial surveillance rules pass
- A change in current security legislation would require VPNs and messages apps to identify and store user data
- Another Swiss company, NYMVPN, is also ready to leave the country instead of undermining its privacy and security infrastructure
Proton confirms that the company will leave Switzerland as new controversial surveillance rules.
Switzerland is Consider changing his surveillance lawWith experts who warn the risk of securing coding and online anonymity in the country. In particular, the amendment can require all VPN services, Messages apps and social networks to identify and store user data -an obligation that is now limited to mobile networks and internet providers.
The company behind one of the Best VPN And coded e -mail services, Proton, is ready to fight back on behalf of the privacy of his more than 100 million users. Other Swiss -based companies, such as NymvpnDo the same too.
No choice but to leave
In one Interview with RTS (Radio Télévision Suisse) On May 13, 2025, Proton CEO Andy Yen closed the proposed amendment as a “large violation of the right to privacy” that also damages the reputation of the country and the ability to compete at international level.
“This revision tries to implement something that is considered illegal in the EU and the United States. The only country in Europe with a roughly equivalent law is Russia,” Yen said.
The amendment strives to expand the number of service providers aimed at including so -called “derived service providers”. It is crucial that the new provisions will introduce three new types of information and two types of monitoring.
When the changes pass, the proton is forced to change how Proton post And Proton VPN Treatment, in addition to the strict no-log-policy IS that the company is not willing to do.
“I think we would have no choice but to leave Switzerland,” Yen said. “The law would almost become identical to those who are in force in Russia today. It is an untenable situation. We would be less confidential as a company in Switzerland than Google, based in the United States. It is therefore impossible for our business model.”
In Switzerland, the new version of the Surveillance Law wants to make it impossible for Proton, Threema and@NIM project to operate from Switzerland. We are in the consultation phase. We will fight. https://t.co/bcmbxzipfcMarch 25, 2025
However, Proton is not the only one who feels in this way.
A new player in the VPN world, Nymvpn Has also fought publicly against Swiss government plans since the beginning.
Talking with Techradar, co-founder of Nym and COO, Alexis Roussel, confirmed that Nym will do the same and will leave Switzerland if the new surveillance rules are maintained.
What is the following?
As the public consultation ended on May 6, 2025, we will now have to wait and see what the Swiss government decides.
Nevertheless, Roussel confirmed to Techradar that there has been a considerable push-back of political parties and Swiss companies.
Some cantons, Including Genevahave even called the right to digital integrity as an argument against these rules. Roussel was the most important founder of the initiative Introduced this new right To protect the online privacy and data from citizens – in 2023 in Geneva and Neuchâtel in 2024 – with more than 90% consensus.
Yen also said that RTS would be more optimistic, even though he points out how this issue shows the need for a more balanced approach when it comes to drafting new laws.
“If we can leave Bern to adopt common sense with which companies can be competing in Switzerland and all over the world, I will stay, take my passport and continue to invest in Switzerland,” he added.
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