Proton Move: What about the TON Foundation?
June 17, 2025
Surveillance laws are straight out of dystopian novels and they’ve become a reality. Proton mail is a popular alternative to Gmail and in response to a controversial spying bill they’re not happy says TechRadar: “"We Would Be Less Confidential Than Google" – Proton Threatens To Quit Switzerland Over New Surveillance Law."
Switzerland’s new surveillance law would require all social networks, VPNs, and messaging apps to identity and retain user data. Currently only mobile networks and ISPs are only required to do this. Proton mail provides users with VPN and encrypted email services. They’re not happy about this potential new law and they’ve threatened to leave Switzerland.
Proton’s CEO said:
“In an interview with RTS (Radio Télévision Suisse) on May 13, 2025, Proton CEO Andy Yen slammed the proposed amendment as a ‘major violation of the right to privacy’ that will also harm the country’s reputation and its ability to compete on an international level. ‘This revision attempts to implement something that has been deemed illegal in the EU and the United States. The only country in Europe with a roughly equivalent law is Russia,’ said Yen…. ‘’I think we would have no choice but to leave Switzerland,’ said Yen. ‘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.’”
The new law would add three new types of information and two types of monitoring. Other tech companies and leaders are against the law.
Switzerland is the bastion of neutrality in Europe. In Zug, Switzerland, the TON Foundation (aka ONF and The Open Network Foundation) works to build support for Telegram’s blockchain, its Telegram-developed crypto currency, and its realigned management team. Will Swiss regulators take a more proactive approach to this interesting non-governmental organization?
Here’s a left-field idea: What if the Proton is a dry-run for some Telegram-related action?
Whitney Grace, June 17, 2025
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