Infomaniak Criticizes Proton Over Swiss Surveillance Law Debate

• Swiss law amendment may force VPNs and messaging apps to identify and retain user data.
• Infomaniak criticizes Proton for being against the Swiss Surveillance law and its push for anonymity.
• Proton, NymVPN threaten to exit Switzerland, citing threats to privacy and user metadata.

The privacy tech industry in Switzerland is deeply divided over a planned change to the country's surveillance law. The goal of the modification is to oblige social networks, messaging apps, and VPNs to identify and retain user data, which is presently only required of mobile networks and internet service providers.

Proton, a Swiss company that offers VPN and encrypted email services, has been outspoken in its criticism of the amendment. The company would think about moving its activities outside of Switzerland if the law is passed, according to CEO Andy Yen, who claims that the proposed regulations would jeopardise customer privacy and bring Switzerland's monitoring methods into line with those of more stringent governments. 

On the other hand, Proton's position on Swiss surveillance law has been openly criticised by Infomaniak, another Swiss cloud service provider well-known for its privacy-focused products. Thomas Jacobsen, the Communication Manager at Infomaniak, charged during a debate on Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) that businesses such as Proton are encouraging internet anonymity at the expense of law enforcement's ability to enforce the law. He maintained that total anonymity impedes justice and that the problem is not with encryption per se, but rather with the absence of user identity. 

However, following public backlash, Infomaniak clarified its position, stating that while it opposes total online anonymity, it also disagrees with the surveillance law amendment in its current form. The business promoted open regulations and judicial review of data access requests, stressing the need for a balanced strategy that protects privacy while allowing authorities to carry out investigations.

NymVPN and Threema, two other Swiss privacy-focused businesses, have also voiced their strong objection to the proposed modification.  They argue that the law threatens the core principles of user privacy and could force them to reconsider their operations within Switzerland. NymVPN's co-founder, Alexis Roussel, highlighted concerns that mandatory data retention could lead to increased risks of data breaches and surveillance, undermining democratic values.

The tech sector and civil society are putting increasing pressure on the Swiss government to reevaluate the planned modifications, as the public consultation period for the amendment ended on May 6, 2025. The outcome of this discussion will probably have a big impact on Switzerland's standing as a digital privacy sanctuary and how privacy-focused tech companies operate there in the future.