Decoder with Nilay Patel · Thursday, July 16, 2026
Proton's CTO, Bart Butler, revealed that the company is considering relocating its operations from EU countries like Germany and Norway if surveillance laws there continue to threaten their privacy mission. He stated these are not empty threats and that the company is actively assessing the implications of such a move.
“Proton is on the record saying it would leave Switzerland and also considered ditching its operations in EU countries like Germany and Norway if the various surveillance laws in those states continue to threaten Proton's privacy mission.”
“Bart told me that these aren't just empty threats. And that Proton is in the process of figuring out what it would mean to leave Europe if things get, in his words, more dystopian.”