EU’s “Chat Control” Moves Forward Despite Privacy Concerns: What 450 Million Europeans Need to Know
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On November 26, 2025, EU member states agreed on a revised version of the Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) regulation, commonly known as “Chat Control”. While the agreement removes mandatory message scanning, privacy experts warn the legislation still creates dangerous precedents for mass surveillance. The legislation would affect all 450 million Europeans using digital communication services. Despite claims of protecting children, critics argue the proposal threatens fundamental privacy rights and could pave the way for broader government monitoring of private communications. From Mandatory to “Voluntary” Surveillance The current proposal represents a significant retreat from earlier versions that would have required all messaging platforms to scan private communications. The original plan faced fierce opposition from technology experts, privacy advocates, and several EU member states. Germany played a crucial role in blocking the mandatory scanning requirements. The October vote scheduled for October 14, 2025 was cancelled after Germany joined a blocking minority representing more than 35% of the EU population. The revised agreement makes voluntary scanning permanent under EU law. Currently, platforms can choose to scan for illegal content under temporary rules that expire in April 2026. The new legislation would make this voluntary framework permanent while introducing additional surveillance infrastructure. Source: @echo_pbreyer However, the “voluntary” nature may be misleading. The proposal includes vague language that could pressure platforms into implementing scanning systems. Companies deemed “high-risk” may be forced to develop technologies that monitor their users’ communications. Technical Problems and False Alarms One of the biggest concerns about Chat Control involves its technical reliability. Over 500 cryptographers and security researchers from 34 countries have called the proposal “technically infeasible” and a danger to democracy. Real-world data shows why experts are worried. Swiss federal police report that 80% of machine-generated reports about suspicious content turn out to be false positives. German authorities received…
