Proton CEO Andy Yen gave a surprisingly sharp interview to the Swiss magazine "watson" (source in German: https://www.watson.ch/digital/wirtschaft/517198902-proton-schweiz-chef-andy-yen-zum-ausbau-der-staatlichen-ueberwachung). He warned that Proton might leave Switzerland if new surveillance laws are passed, which aligns with the company’s strong pro-privacy stance. So far, nothing unexpected.

However, Yen’s remarks about Swiss officials - describing them as lifelong bureaucrats, all lazy, and incompetent - came across as arrogant and out of place, almost like something you’d expect from a capitalism praising Trump supporter. he also was quoted in the interview, that the US works better (so they consider to move there?).

The interview left me speechless, and I’m certain I won’t be considering Proton for any of my future projects

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[–] LarmyOfLone@lemm.ee 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I hope that this is only a few misguided bureaucrats of the ÜPF, who wake up and notice that they make a big mistake.

I've only skimmed but it seems he's only angry at specific bureaucrats. I don't see anything too outrageous.

I suspect that computer scientists have a tendency to believe that all complex problems can simply be broken down into many small parts and solved once and for all. But that is because they enjoy thinking that way for writing code or solving computer problems, and they are not educated at all in sociology, economy, psychology or political science. There are those who seek power above anything else - and that is why we can't have nice things or simple solutions.

He does come across a bit like a libertarian nutjob as if it's up to the "captains of industry" to fight crime and care for the well-being of people. Except of course about the surveillance area he is right, the surveillance state has always and will always overreach. And organized crime and terrorists can always circumvent legal means of surveillance by faking or stealing identities.