Proton VPN boss compares Switzerland to Russia and claims it could leave the country over proposed law

News
By published

Encryption and user data is under threat

Proton CEO Andy Yen standing in front of white wall. "Proton, Privacy by default" is written on the wall in purple
(Image credit: FABRICE COFFRINI / Getty Images)

Proton boss Andy Yen has said the company will leave Switzerland if the country's new surveillance legislation becomes law.

Switzerland is known for its strong privacy laws and is home to one of the best VPNs, Proton VPN.

Swiss flag flying, with clear blue sky in the background

(Image credit: Connect Images / Getty Images)

Switzerland or Russia?

Andy Yen spoke to Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) on May 13, and launched a scathing attack on the proposed legislative amendment.

Yen described it as a "major violation of the right to privacy" – something that directly contradicts Proton's "privacy by default" tagline.

"This revision attempts to implement something that has been deemed illegal in the EU and the United States," Yen claimed. "The only country in Europe with a roughly equivalent law is Russia."

This is a damning comparison. Russia has some of the world's strictest VPN laws, has banned multiple VPNs from its app stores, and has a long history of internet censorship. In December 2024, it disrupted the internet across several regions in a rumoured test of its "sovereign internet structure."

The only country in Europe with a roughly equivalent law is Russia

Andy Yen, Proton CEO

The amendment's consultation phase ended on May 6. At the time of writing the findings aren't known.

If the law is changed, Yen said "we would have no choice but to leave Switzerland."

"The law would become almost identical to the one in force today in Russia. It's an untenable situation. We would be less confidential as a company in Switzerland than Google, based in the United States. So it's impossible for our business model."

Proton logo with VPN, Mail, Calendar and Drive logos

(Image credit: Proton)

Not just Proton

The law requires changes to encryption, as well as user data collection. An encryption backdoor would be demanded and new types of information and monitoring created.

Proton's users exceed 100 million, with Proton VPN, Proton Mail, and the wider Proton ecosystem at risk. But other Swiss based companies who provide encrypted services would also be impacted – including the encrypted messaging app, Threema, and the newly launched VPN, NymVPN.

NymVPN has been a vocal critic of the proposed amendment, with its Chief Operating Officer Alexis Roussel releasing a detailed statement.

Quotes featured in this article have been translated from French into English.

Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

George Phillips
George Phillips
Staff Writer

George is a Staff Writer at Tom's Guide, covering VPN, privacy, and cybersecurity news. He is especially interested in digital rights and censorship, and its interplay with politics. Outside of work, George is passionate about music, Star Wars, and Karate.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.