Keet: the p2p messenger that defies Chat Control

Keet, the p2p messenger that sidesteps Chat Control

As the EU fine-tunes its mass communications scanning rules —with backing from Spain's conservative and socialist parties— one app claims to square the circle: instant messaging with no servers, no metadata and anonymous sign-up. It's called Keet and it arrives backed by Tether and Bitfinex. The question is whether it can really compete with Signal or Telegram, and whether its peer-to-peer architecture makes it immune to surveillance.

What is Keet and how does it work?

Keet is a chat app launched in 2022 by Holepunch, a platform funded by Tether and Bitfinex. Unlike traditional apps, it doesn't store messages on corporate servers: communications travel directly between users' devices, encrypted end to end. It asks for no phone number or email address, and offers high-quality video calls, unlimited file transfers and built-in bitcoin payments. Its model is reminiscent of BitTorrent, but with cryptography.

Is it open source? The key to trust

One recurring debate is whether Keet is truly auditable. As of April 2025, part of the code —the cryptographic and networking components— is already on GitHub, but the interface client is not yet open source. Its developers have announced they will open it up fully over time. Without total transparency, any promise of privacy hangs in the air. Competitors such as SimpleX, Session or Briar already offer open source code from the start.

The context: Chat Control and mass surveillance

Keet does not emerge in a vacuum. So-called "Chat Control" —the EU regulation seeking to scan private messages for illegal content— has mobilised those who believe digital privacy is at stake. With Spain's PP and PSOE voting in favour in the European Parliament, technical alternatives such as steganography and p2p networks are gaining traction. Keet presents itself as an uncensorable tool, but mass adoption depends on it resolving its outstanding issues with openness and usability.

Will Keet become the refuge of those seeking to escape Brussels' gaze? For now, its community hopes the code will be peine up completely. Without that, scepticism is the only sensible stance.