Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has publicly denounced the European Union’s proposed “Chat Control” legislation as a direct challenge to digital privacy, arguing that mandated scanning of private messages would force platforms to introduce systemic vulnerabilities into end-to-end encryption and thereby undermine security for all users. He framed privacy as a foundational right for modern communication systems, insisting that compelled technical changes intended for law enforcement access would carry broad collateral risk. Buterin positioned his critique within broader debates about the trade-offs between public safety and cryptographic integrity, emphasizing that ostensible security gains could be reversed by the predictable exploitation of deliberately weakened systems. The proposed directive would require platforms to scan private messages for illegal content, including child sexual exploitation material, through mechanisms that effectively bypass current end-to-end encryption guarantees. Buterin and other critics argue these mechanisms amount to backdoors — designed points of access that are inherently hackable — which introduce attack surfaces exploitable by state and non-state actors alike. From a technical and policy standpoint, the introduction of systemic vulnerabilities undermines established principles of robust encryption, reduces overall internet security, and risks degrading trust in platforms that serve as critical infrastructure for finance, identity, and decentralized applications. Compounding the technical objections, Buterin highlighted perceived inconsistencies in the lawmaking process, noting leaked plans that would exempt interior ministries, intelligence services, police, and military entities from the same surveillance requirements imposed on private providers and citizens. Such exemptions, he suggested, erode the argument that the measure is strictly necessary for public safety and amplify concerns about fairness, accountability, and the potential for asymmetric power dynamics. These points have resonated across the crypto community and civil liberties organizations, reinforcing mobilization against the proposal. Politically, support is fragmented: 15 EU states favor the measure but lack the 65% population threshold required, with Germany’s undecided position likely decisive. The uncertain legislative trajectory leaves open outcomes that will shape Web3 development and privacy norms; if adopted, the law could impose compliance burdens on blockchain-integrated services, constraining innovation and user sovereignty in the long term. Public responses to Buterin’s statements have been significant, with his post quickly gaining traction and over 4,000 likes among advocates and technologists. Experts warn the proposal could also drive users toward decentralized platforms and undermine the EU’s influence on global privacy standards, a concern that highlights the broader stakes for digital rights and market dynamics, particularly given the growing advocacy for Web3 privacy. The complex RPC protocols underlying many blockchain networks add an additional layer of difficulty in ensuring secure and private communication without sacrificing functionality.
