Proton, the Geneva-based encrypted email provider founded 11 years ago by three scientist who met at CERN, will freeze its investments in Switzerland, its chief executive Andy Yen told Le Temps on Wed
  • Steve@communick.newsEnglish
    39·
    3 days ago

    “I never like it when companies try to pressure Switzerland or its people with money,” he said. “In a democracy, the right way is to argue, not threaten to leave.” Allowing firms to dictate policy by brandishing relocation threats, he warned, “is the worst possible outcome—for democracy itself.”

    That does happen. But is that really what’s happening here? I can’t imagine it’s just a threat. It looks like the government is considering a law that makes Proton’s entire business model illegal in Switzerland. As a result it would only make sense for them to start working on moving elsewhere. It seems a completely natural, obvious, even necessary consequence.

    • ook@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      12·
      3 days ago

      Considering these are privacy-invading measures that dude should really get of his high horse. No tolerance for intolerance applies here as well.

    • neuracnu@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      3·
      2 days ago

      For context, that’s a quote from Samuel Bendahan, a Socialist member of parliament from a separate article on RTS, sharing that he shares Proton’s concerns about state overreach but dislikes the firms tactics.

      Bendahan’s concerns would make sense if Proton felt like letting the government violate a little of their customer’s privacy (as a treat) while they encourage the government to please not do that. But Proton is not interested in doing that, probably believing that their customers would revolt en masse if they did.

      If Bendahan doesn’t like the consequences, he should be preventing them from happening, not whining that the consequences are unjust.