Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has voiced strong criticism against the European Union’s proposed “Chat Control” legislation, alerting that it poses a threat to privacy rights in digital communications.
In a post shared on X this Saturday, Buterin expressed his concerns regarding mandatory surveillance measures that would mandate tech platforms to scan private messages for illicit content. “Everyone is entitled to privacy and security… for our private communications,” he stated.
He further argued that “You cannot create a secure society by compromising individual security,” stating that backdoors meant for law enforcement are “inevitably hackable” and jeopardize the safety of all.
This post responded to a previous message from entrepreneur Pieter Levels, who urged European citizens to oppose the regulation, cautioning that it could permit officials to access individuals’ personal messages.
Related: EU proposal for scanning all private messages gains traction
Vitalik highlights legislative hypocrisy
Buterin also pointed out the hypocrisy of lawmakers who reportedly wish to exempt themselves from the Chat Control legislation. “The fact that government representatives desire to exempt themselves from their own law is significant,” he remarked, linking to a report from EU Reporter.
According to the report, a leaked draft of the proposed legislation has shown that interior ministers are looking to exempt themselves, along with intelligence, police, and military personnel, from the mass surveillance measures aimed at scanning private messages.
Currently, 15 EU countries support the proposal but do not meet the 65% population threshold required for approval. Germany, which holds the key vote, has yet to declare its final position. If Germany votes in favor, the law is likely to pass; if it abstains or opposes, the legislation is expected to fail.
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EU’s Chat Control may steer users toward Web3
Crypto proponents, including Diode CEO Hans Rempel and Brickken’s Elisenda Fabrega, have suggested that the proposal might push users towards decentralized Web3 platforms designed with privacy as a priority.
Rempel emphasized that Web3’s ethos of “not your keys, not your data” resonates with those disenchanted by centralized systems. Fabrega warned that such a shift could splinter the EU’s digital market and diminish its impact on global privacy norms.
Fabrega further noted that the legislation infringes upon Articles 7 and 8 of the EU Charter, which safeguard private communications and personal data. Rempel cautioned that giving governments backdoor access carries substantial cybersecurity risks, especially given their track record of data breaches.
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