Vitalik Buterin on Privacy Protection: The Necessity of Technology and Personal Responsibility

The Necessity of Privacy Technology

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has made his stance clear on privacy protection, supporting developers behind certain tools and admitting to being an active user himself. His views challenge the common belief in unrestricted governmental access to personal data.

Risks in Government Data Storage

He argues that while many assume government surveillance is necessary for security, the reality shows that state databases are frequently hacked, and sensitive data often ends up in the hands of hostile foreign actors.

Practical Value of Privacy Tools

He also shared how he personally used such tools to conduct transactions without leaving his name in corporate databases. Some of these tools continue to function years after development ended, proving their lasting utility and importance in digital privacy.