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   Switzerland will revise proposed law change after backlash from tech industry   
      
   Date:   
   Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:17:36 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   The Swiss tech industry joined forces and managed to make the government   
   reconsider the amendment to widen surveillance obligations. Yet, the fight    
   for privacy isn't over.   
      
   FULL STORY   
      
   The Swiss government has been forced to reverse a controversial decisions    
   that would have considerably expanded surveillance in the country.    
      
   The issue first made headlines in March following reports the government was   
   considering a legislative change that experts warned would put secure   
   encryption and online anonymity at risk . However, following a strong   
   backlash, the government has now decided to return to the drawing board.    
      
   The proposal sought to expand surveillance obligations currently reserved for   
   telecom networks and internet service providers (ISPs) to target so-called   
   "derived service providers." This would have included messaging apps, social   
   media platforms, and virtual private networks (VPNs) .    
      
   However, lawmakers faced resistance from Switzerland's privacy tech sector,   
   which refused to compromise on user security. Proton, the provider behind one   
   of the best VPN apps on the market, joined forces with NymVPN and secure   
   messaging app Threema to fight the proposal, gaining significant support from   
   across the political spectrum.    
      
   The reversal was formalized on December 10 when the Swiss Federal Parliament   
   accepted the motion presented by Council of States member Johanna Gapany,   
   effectively making the legislative change defunct.    
      
   While a welcome development, NymVPN COO Alexis Roussel warns that the battle   
   is not over. "There is a small shift happening, which is promising. But    
   still, there is no change in the willingness of the federal government to   
   impose surveillance," Roussel told TechRadar.   
      
   The surveillance paradox   
      
   Despite the positive outcome, the parliamentary debate highlighted a   
   fundamental disconnect between the government and tech experts regarding the   
   definition of mass surveillance.    
      
   "There is a fundamental misconception in surveillance," Roussel told   
   TechRadar. "For us, surveillance begins as soon as we collect the data. For   
   them, it's only when accessing the data that they are surveilling. So   
   collecting the data is not a problem."    
      
   The sentiment echoes comments made by Proton CEO Andy Yen to Swiss newspaper   
   Le Temps following the decision. "I still perceive a significant   
   misunderstanding of the issues at stake in this draft ordinance," Yen said.   
   "The authorities say that this is in no way a question of mass surveillance.   
   But when the authorities require companies like ours to collect colossal   
   masses of information about their users, what do you call it?"    
      
   This philosophical discrepancy prevents the Swiss tech sector from having    
   full confidence that lawmakers truly understand why the original proposal was   
   so problematic.    
      
   Nevertheless, the vote represents a significant political defeat for the   
   government. And any future compromise will need to find common ground to win   
   over the politicians who opposed the initial plan.   
      
   What's next?    
      
   As the Swiss Federal Parliament accepted the motion to revise the    
   surveillance amendment, it confirmed it will first commission an independent   
   impact analysis.    
      
   These findings will influence the shape of the new proposal. Once a new   
   version is drafted, the public consultation process will begin.    
      
   "This is going to add like a two-year delay at least, which is good," said   
   Roussel.    
      
   What's certain, however, is that the Swiss tech industry seems to be emerging   
   stronger from this battle  and it isn't willing to give up.    
      
   As Andy Yen wrote in a post : "We remain prepared to take all steps required   
   to protect privacy, including departing from Switzerland if necessary,   
   although we hope it does not come to that."    
      
   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   
   using a VPN service to break the law or conduct illegal activities. Consuming   
   pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future   
   Publishing.    
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/switzerland-will-revise-pro   
   posed-law-change-after-backlash-from-tech-industry   
      
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