Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has publicly criticized the European Union’s proposed Chat Control legislation, warning that it threatens digital privacy and could create vulnerabilities in communication platforms.
Backdoors Undermine Security
In a Saturday post on X, Buterin highlighted the risks of mandatory surveillance measures requiring platforms to scan private messages for illegal content. “We all deserve privacy and security… for our private communications,” he wrote. He added that building backdoors for law enforcement makes systems “inevitably hackable,” putting all users at risk.
Fight Chat Control.
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) September 27, 2025
You cannot make society secure by making people insecure.
We all deserve privacy and security, without inevitably hackable backdoors, for our private communications.
The fact that the government officials want to exempt themselves from their own law is… https://t.co/OY5NXyk58j
Vitalik Buterin Message on X.
The statement followed an earlier post from entrepreneur Pieter Levels, urging Europeans to reject the legislation. Levels argued that it could give authorities access to personal messages, raising concerns about mass surveillance and overreach.
Lawmakers Seek Exemptions
Buterin also criticized reports that interior ministers, intelligence agencies, police, and military staff may exempt themselves from the proposed law.
Leaked drafts suggest officials want to avoid the same scanning requirements imposed on the public.
“The fact that government officials want to exempt themselves from their own law is telling,” Buterin commented.
Currently, 15 EU countries support the legislation, but it falls short of the 65% population threshold required for passage.
Germany, holding the pivotal vote, has not yet finalized its position. The law’s future largely depends on whether Berlin votes in favor, abstains, or opposes the measure.
Chat control could accelerate Web3 adoption
Hans Rempel, CEO of Diode, explained that Web3’s “not your keys, not your data” principle appeals to individuals wary of centralized surveillance.
Similarly, Elisenda Fabrega of Brickken noted that the regulation could fragment the EU digital market and limit Europe’s influence on global privacy standards.
The EU’s proposed Chat Control regulation would require digital platforms to scan private messages, images, and videos for illicit content. While proponents frame it as necessary for child protection, critics warn it could erode privacy, weaken encryption, and expand government surveillance powers.
In response to increasing concerns over surveillance and data privacy, several decentralized Web3 platforms have emerged, offering users greater control over their data and communications.
Countries like Japan, for example, have invested strongly in the adoption of Web3.
Such Web3 alternatives exemplify how decentralization can enhance privacy and security in the digital age. By shifting control from centralized entities to individuals, these platforms empower users to safeguard their personal information and engage in digital interactions with greater confidence.
As debate continues, Buterin and other crypto advocates emphasize that privacy and security should remain fundamental to digital communication, arguing that security cannot be achieved by compromising the very systems that protect users.
They further point out that such a system might undermine freedom of expression and create security vulnerabilities if backdoors are exploited.
Gunel Ismayilova
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