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Vitalik Buterin warns EU Chat Control bill would weaken encryption, create backdoors, and risk mass surveillance ahead of October vote.
Author: Tanishq Bodh
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has joined the growing opposition to the European Union’s proposed EU Chat – Chat Control legislation, warning it could erode privacy rights and weaken digital security. In a post on X on September 20, 2025, Buterin said: “You cannot make society secure by making people insecure. We all deserve privacy and security, without inevitably hackable backdoors, for our private communications.” His remarks add weight to mounting criticism from technologists and civil liberties groups ahead of an October vote in the European Parliament.
Buterin’s intervention quickly gained traction, with his post garnering more than 4,000 likes in hours. Crypto communities and privacy advocates amplified his critique, tying it to blockchain’s ethos of decentralization and user sovereignty. Groups like Nym and Reclaim The Net used the moment to mobilize European citizens to contact lawmakers. Analysts noted that Buterin’s comments may influence policymakers by linking the proposal to broader risks for Europe’s innovation climate, where Web3 firms already face regulatory headwinds.
The Child Sexual Abuse Regulation (CSAR), known as Chat Control, requires tech platforms to install AI-driven client-side scanners that flag illegal content before encryption. But experts warn this undermines end-to-end encryption and creates vulnerabilities for hackers and state actors. A September open letter signed by more than 500 cryptographers and researchers described the plan as “mass surveillance by design.” Privacy groups also highlight the potential for false positives up to 80% in some models—that could overwhelm law enforcement and restrict free expression.
Supporters, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, argue the measure is vital, citing over one million reports of child abuse material annually. But leaked drafts show exemptions for government officials, raising concerns of double standards. Critics argue that alternatives, such as improved targeted investigations and stronger support systems, could combat online harms without dismantling encryption. For Buterin, the fight echoes his long-standing advocacy for privacy as a foundation of governance and digital trust.
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