Vitalik Slams EU's Chat Control Plan Saying Everyone Deserves Privacy and Security

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has strongly criticized the European Union’s proposed “Chat Control” law, arguing it poses a direct threat to privacy in digital communications. In a post shared on X, Buterin said that forcing tech companies to scan private messages for illegal content undermines both security and trust. “We all deserve privacy and security for our private communications,” he wrote, stressing that backdoors designed for law enforcement are “inevitably hackable” and would make everyone less safe.

Buterin also highlighted what he called hypocrisy among EU lawmakers, citing reports that government officials, intelligence agencies, police, and military staff may seek exemptions from the very surveillance rules being imposed on citizens. “The fact that government officials want to exempt themselves from their own law is telling,” he added, linking to a leaked draft published by EU Reporter.

The controversial proposal has backing from 15 EU member states but still falls short of the 65% population threshold required for approval. Germany’s stance remains undecided, leaving its vote crucial in determining the law’s fate. If Berlin supports the plan, the legislation could pass; if it abstains or rejects, the measure will likely collapse.

Critics warn that the law could accelerate migration toward decentralized Web3 platforms, where privacy is built in by design. Hans Rempel, CEO of Diode, noted that Web3’s “not your keys, not your data” approach appeals to users tired of surveillance-driven systems. Elisenda Fabrega of Brickken cautioned that such a shift could fragment the EU’s digital ecosystem and weaken its influence on global privacy norms.

Both experts argued that the legislation violates Articles 7 and 8 of the EU Charter, which safeguard private communications and personal data, while exposing citizens to heightened cybersecurity risks.