this post was submitted on 24 Jul 2025
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The proposed update to Switzerland’s Ordinance on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic (VÜPF: Verordnung über die Überwachung des Post- und Fernmeldeverkehrs) represents a significant expansion of state surveillance powers, worse than the surveillance powers of the USA. If enacted, it would have serious consequences for encrypted services such as Threema, an encrypted WhatsApp alternative and Proton Mail as well as VPN providers based in Switzerland.

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[–] TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 200 points 3 days ago (8 children)

You've not heard of shady banking, Nazi gold, reluctance to stop dealing with Russia, women not being able to vote until the 70s, and Nestle?

Switzerland gets aggressively simped for online, and there's certainly some nice things about them, but there's also some pretty awful things.

[–] Klear@lemmy.world 99 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Those are all very bad, but on the other hand their flag is a big plus.

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 48 points 2 days ago

It's also a big red flag.

[–] lagoon8622@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

But on the minus side, it's a cross

[–] _LordMcNuggets_@feddit.org 4 points 1 day ago

on the minus side we have austria

[–] Jason2357@lemmy.ca 22 points 2 days ago

Yeah, the whole "private banking" history thing the EFF seems to lionize in the article was 100% just for serving lucrative international robber barrons and other criminals. It was never about protecting regular citizens privacy.

[–] Birch@sh.itjust.works 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Hold up now! I'll have you know in some parts of the country women couldn't vote until the 90s! Also unmarried cohabitation was illegal in some cantons until the 80s and paternity leave as a concept only exists in Switzerland since the 00s.

[–] Crashumbc@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

US is still lacking that last item....

[–] Akasazh@feddit.nl 11 points 2 days ago

I think someone like you, Grand Nagus, would admire the Swiss over most of that ;)

[–] SonOfAntenora@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

My theory is that if you're cute you're socially protected and the same applies to states and countries. Switzerland is quite the nice place and there are cultural hubs of historical importance, so it has the cute look now doesn't it.

[–] percent@infosec.pub 7 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I meant current times, not in the past. Sorry, I assumed that would be obvious. There are also some things I like about Germany, though they have a pretty terrible past.

[–] HereIAm@lemmy.world 35 points 3 days ago

The Nazi gold is still very much a thing. And the descendants of Jewish people who died in concentration camps are often unsuccessful in reclaiming any wealth that was stored in Swiss banks, because they don't have death certificates and what not. Switzerland is incredibly stubborn and selfish when it comes to anything that would tarnish their neutral stance in banking and politics.

[–] TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Nazi gold didn't disappear after the Nazis fell. They still pocketed it all, despite knowing where all that wealth came from, and did fuck all to help rebuild Europe.

Other things like their appeasing attitude towards Russia, reluctance to allow weapons exports to Ukraine, and willingness to export weapons to awful regimes are all unambiguously current.

[–] percent@infosec.pub 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Huh. On the surface, they don't sound very neutral on the weapons stuff 😕. TIL. I wonder what their underlying reasoning for this is

[–] Crashumbc@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Money, it's always money...

[–] rottingleaf@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago

Strong means attractive. Not getting pummeled in WWII and making some profits, being complicit in some crimes (turning back Jews), and in general being on top for many decades make you look strong.