Swiss privacy tech company Proton is warning it may leave Switzerland if the country passes a proposed law that would require technology firms to share user data with authorities. The company, best known for its VPN and secure email services, says the changes would undermine Switzerland’s reputation as a global leader in digital privacy.
Currently, Swiss law does not require companies to store or share user connection logs. This allows VPN services like Proton VPN to guarantee that users’ browsing history remains private.
“Under Swiss law, we are not obligated to save any user connection logs, nor can we be forced to perform targeted logging on specific users,” Proton VPN states on its website. “This means that your private browsing history stays private and cannot be turned over to a third-party.”
However, a proposed revision would change that. If passed, the law would compel tech companies to cooperate with government data requests—even if doing so meant tracking specific users. Critics say this would destroy one of the main benefits of using a Swiss-based VPN.
“This revision attempts to implement something that has been deemed illegal in the EU and the United States,” said Proton founder and CEO Andy Yen in an interview with Radio Télévision Suisse. “The only country in Europe with a roughly equivalent law is Russia.”
Proton, founded in 2017, has built a strong reputation in the privacy space. Its services include Proton VPN, Proton Mail, and Proton Pass, a password manager. The company’s tools are widely used by privacy-conscious users and have earned praise for their reliability and security.
In a recent review, Proton VPN was named the best free VPN, and its paid version also received high marks. Proton Pass has been ranked alongside top password managers like Dashlane and LastPass, while Proton Mail has gained attention as a secure alternative to Gmail.
Proton says it would regret having to leave Switzerland but feels that staying under the proposed law would compromise its mission. If the law passes, it may relocate to protect the privacy of its users.
If Proton follows through on this threat, it would mark a major shift in Switzerland’s role as a hub for privacy-focused technology companies.
