Vitalik Buterin Slams EU “Chat Control” Over Message Scans

Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin Slams EU “Chat Control” Over Message Scans

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: September 29, 2025

Key Takeaways

Vitalik Buterin said EU’s "Chat Control" threatens online privacy by forcing platforms to scan private chats for illegal content;
He warned that backdoors for authorities won’t improve safety, since hackers can exploit them and weaken security for everyone;
A leaked draft reveals that EU officials may be exempt from the law, which raises concerns about fairness.

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Ethereum’s ETH $4,110.79 co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, has spoken out against the European Union’s plan known as "Chat Control".

He noted that the proposal would damage the right to private conversations online and weaken overall security.

The idea behind the legislation is to make technology companies scan people’s private messages to find illegal content. Buterin stated in a post on X that this approach is harmful.

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He explained that adding "backdoors" for authorities does not make people safer because hackers can exploit those same openings. Buterin said:

You cannot make society secure by making people insecure.

He added that private communication deserves both privacy and protection.

His comments came in response to entrepreneur Pieter Levels, who also warned that the plan could give officials direct access to citizens’ personal messages.

Another point Buterin raised was about fairness. Reports suggest that some government officials want to avoid the very rules they are trying to pass.

A leaked draft, cited by EU Reporter, revealed that ministers aim to exclude themselves, along with intelligence agencies, the police, and the military, from the surveillance rules. Buterin noted:

The fact that government officials want to exempt themselves from their own law is telling.

On September 24, Buterin urged greater transparency and openness in the digital systems that support essential services, such as healthcare, finance, and public governance. What did he say? Read the full story.