Ethereum Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin Says EU Chat Control Could Threaten Digital Privacy, Spur Shift to Web3

• EU Chat Control risks privacy by requiring platform scanning of private messages.

• Vitalik Buterin and privacy advocates say backdoors for law enforcement create systemic cybersecurity risks.

• 15 EU countries back the proposal, while Germany’s vote is pivotal; experts warn this could push users to Web3 privacy tools.

EU Chat Control threatens digital privacy; learn what Vitalik Buterin and experts say, and how users and Web3 may respond — read for policy impact and next steps.

What is the EU Chat Control law and why does Vitalik Buterin oppose it?

The EU Chat Control law is a proposed regulation to require platforms to detect illegal content in private communications. Vitalik Buterin opposes it, arguing that mandated backdoors or scanning undermine end-to-end privacy and create vulnerabilities that reduce security for everyone.

How would mandatory message scanning affect digital privacy and security?

Mandatory message scanning would force platforms to inspect private messages for illicit content, weakening end-to-end encryption or introducing metadata surveillance. Privacy advocates cite Articles 7 and 8 of the EU Charter as safeguards for private communications and personal data. Experts warn that any systemic access point increases the risk of large-scale breaches.

Vitalik Buterin has opposed the EU’s proposed Chat Control law, warning it undermines digital privacy and creates surveillance backdoors.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin publicly criticized the European Union’s proposed “Chat Control” regulation, saying it threatens the right to privacy in private digital communications.

In a post on X, Buterin opposed mandatory surveillance measures that would require platforms to scan private messages for illegal content. “We all deserve privacy and security… for our private communications,” he wrote, stressing that privacy and safety are not mutually exclusive.

“You cannot make society secure by making people insecure,” Buterin added, warning that any law-built backdoors for investigators are “inevitably hackable” and weaken overall cybersecurity.

The post replied to entrepreneur Pieter Levels, who urged Europeans to reject the regulation and warned it could allow officials to access citizens’ private messages. Other commentators and advocacy groups have raised similar concerns.

Vitalik slams EU’s Chat Control. Source: Vitalik

Related: EU proposal to scan all private messages gains momentum (reported by multiple outlets as plain text reference)

Why did Buterin call out alleged lawmaker exemptions?

Buterin also criticized reports that lawmakers seek to exempt themselves from the same surveillance rules they propose for citizens. He described such exemptions as hypocritical and a sign of unequal application of privacy rules.

According to a leaked draft reported by news outlets (plain text reference), interior ministers are pushing to exempt intelligence, police, military staff and government officials from mass surveillance provisions that would scan private chats.

Fifteen EU member states currently support the proposal, but the measure needs approval representing 65% of the EU population. Germany’s upcoming vote is pivotal: a German yea could push the law through, while an abstain or no could derail it.

15 EU countries support the law. Source: Fight Chat Control

Related: US Treasury’s DeFi ID plan is ‘like putting cameras in every living room’ (plain text reference)

How might Chat Control influence Web3 adoption?

Crypto industry figures including Diode CEO Hans Rempel and Brickken’s Elisenda Fabrega say the proposal could accelerate migration to decentralized platforms that prioritize privacy by design.

Rempel highlights the “not your keys, not your data” ethos as attractive to users disillusioned with centralized surveillance. Fabrega warns that mass migration could fragment the EU digital market and complicate the bloc’s ability to set global privacy rules.

Fabrega also asserts the legislation may conflict with Articles 7 and 8 of the EU Charter protecting private communications and personal data. Rempel adds that government-operated backdoors carry real cybersecurity risks, noting past government data breaches as cautionary examples.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Chat Control force companies to scan encrypted messages?

Not directly stated, but the regulation would require platforms to detect illegal content in private messages, which may lead companies to implement scanning mechanisms that weaken or bypass end-to-end encryption to comply.

What can users do now to protect their privacy?

Users can review privacy settings, prefer encrypted and privacy-first platforms, limit sharing of sensitive data, and explore decentralized communication tools that reduce central points of surveillance.

Key Takeaways

• Privacy risk: Chat Control would mandate message scanning, weakening protections for private communications.
• Security trade-off: Backdoors or scanning create systemic vulnerabilities that can be exploited by bad actors.
• Market impact: The proposal may push privacy-conscious users toward Web3 and decentralized platforms.

Conclusion

Vitalik Buterin’s critique of the EU Chat Control law frames the proposal as a fundamental threat to digital privacy and security. With 15 countries backing the draft and Germany’s vote pivotal, the debate will shape how Europeans protect private communications and whether demand for Web3 privacy solutions accelerates. Monitor legislative developments and consider privacy-preserving options.