#EU law

The European Parliament voted on July 8, 2026, to allow mass scanning of private messages until April 3, 2028, despite a majority of MEPs opposing the measure. This decision represents a significant setback for digital privacy in the EU, as it permits warrantless scanning of private communications on platforms like Gmail, Snapchat, and Skype, setting a precedent for mass surveillance. The motion to reject the scanning law failed because it required an absolute majority of all 705 MEPs (361 votes), not just those present; only 314 voted against, 276 in favor, 17 abstentions, and 113 were absent.

The European Union is advancing Chat Control proposals 1.0 and 2.0, which would require messaging platforms to scan all private messages and uploaded content for child sexual abuse material, potentially undermining end-to-end encryption. These proposals represent a significant shift towards mass surveillance, threatening the privacy and security of all EU citizens' digital communications. If enacted, they could set a global precedent for weakening encryption and enable broader government surveillance capabilities. Chat Control relies on client-side scanning, which checks content on users' devices before encryption, bypassing end-to-end protection. The proposals have been criticized for technical risks like false positives and potential abuse by authorities for purposes beyond child protection.