Switzerland plans surveillance worse than US
9 months ago
- #encryption
- #privacy
- #surveillance
- Switzerland is proposing an update to its surveillance law (VÜPF) that would significantly expand state surveillance powers, surpassing even those of the USA.
- The law would require Swiss email and VPN providers with just 5,000 users to log IP addresses and retain data for six months, a practice illegal in Germany for email providers.
- Anonymous usage would be rendered impossible as ID or driver’s license and possibly a phone number would be required for service registration.
- Providers must be able to decrypt user data upon request, except for end-to-end encrypted messages between users.
- The law is being introduced by the Swiss government without parliamentary input, bypassing Switzerland’s direct democracy principles.
- The update targets smaller providers and anonymous services, including encrypted chat and email providers like Threema and Proton Mail, as well as VPNs.
- Proton Mail is moving its servers out of Switzerland due to the proposed mass surveillance measures, citing legal uncertainty.
- Critics argue the law undermines privacy, secure communication, and Switzerland’s reputation as a hub for secure online services.
- Legal experts highlight potential conflicts with the Data Protection Act and constitutional privacy rights.
- The law represents a broader trend of attempts to undermine encryption, with opposition from privacy advocates and companies like Tuta Mail.