The European Union is one step away from reviving proposed rules that would require scanning of private messages for child sexual abuse material, threatening the future of end-to-end encryption. If enacted, these rules could undermine privacy and encryption across the EU, affecting hundreds of millions of users and setting a dangerous precedent for mass surveillance. The proposal, known as Chat Control, has two versions: Chat Control 1.0 allows voluntary scanning by platforms, while Chat Control 2.0 mandates scanning and effectively bans end-to-end encryption.
Background
The EU's Chat Control regulation, formally the Child Sexual Abuse Regulation (CSAR), was proposed in May 2022 to combat child sexual abuse material. Critics argue that client-side scanning—checking content before encryption—would break encryption and enable mass surveillance of private communications.
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Discussion
Community comments express strong concerns about the persistent nature of this legislation, with one user likening it to 'Terminator legislation' that will keep returning. Another user advises EU citizens to contact representatives via fightchatcontrol.eu, while others distinguish between voluntary and mandatory scanning versions.