The European Union is reviving a sweeping surveillance proposal that could force all major messaging apps to scan private messages, photos, and videos — even when protected by encryption. The measure, dubbed “Chat Control,” is gaining support among EU member states and could become law by October.
Key Facts:
- “Chat Control” would require apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram to scan user content before encryption.
- 19 of 27 EU member states now support the proposal; Germany’s decision could determine its passage.
- The plan includes client-side scanning and mandatory age verification, removing digital anonymity.
- Denmark reintroduced the proposal on July 1 during its EU Council presidency.
- Officials claim the law aims to combat child sexual abuse material (CSAM), but critics call it mass surveillance.
The Rest of The Story:
The EU’s controversial “Chat Control” initiative is back on the table, with growing support from its member nations. First introduced by Denmark on July 1, the plan calls for mandatory scanning of all user messages — text, images, and video — on messaging apps, regardless of encryption.
The mechanism proposed is client-side scanning. Rather than weakening encryption itself, the software would scan content directly on users’ devices before it’s even encrypted. French tech blogger Korben likened it to the Post Office reading your mail in your living room before you seal the envelope.
Patrick Breyer, a former member of the European Parliament with the German Pirate Party, warned that the real effect of the proposal would be “mass surveillance by means of fully automated real-time surveillance of messaging and chats and the end of privacy of digital correspondence.”
Germany, still undecided, holds the key. If it joins the 19 countries in favor, the plan could pass via qualified majority — requiring at least 15 countries representing 65% of the EU population. France, previously opposed, is now in favor.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who was arrested in France in 2024 for alleged moderation failures, warned that political censorship and overreach in Europe could lead to “societal collapse.” He also accused French intelligence of pressuring him to censor pro-conservative voices before Romania’s 2025 elections — a demand he says he refused.
Commentary:
The EU continues to drift toward authoritarianism under the guise of protecting children. “Chat Control” is a proposal straight out of a dystopian novel — real-time scanning of private conversations on personal devices, enforced by government mandate.
Their strategy is clever but dangerous: target vile content like CSAM to justify sweeping surveillance measures. Yet even experts admit criminals use channels far outside mainstream platforms. So who gets swept up in this dragnet? Regular citizens.
This is not a slippery slope — it’s a planned descent. Anonymity is treated like a threat, and privacy like a loophole to close. Once the door to constant surveillance is opened, there’s no going back.
If passed, the EU’s demands will ripple across the Atlantic. American tech firms may be forced to alter their platforms, bending to foreign censorship laws just to maintain European market access. This puts the U.S. on a collision course with core First Amendment principles.
The Trump administration must draw a hard line now. That means investigating — and even sanctioning — foreign governments that try to coerce U.S. companies into spying on users. Anything less invites more pressure from globalist regimes to censor dissent and erode liberty.
Alternatively, U.S. companies can and should refuse to operate in countries that demand access to users’ private messages. Better to lose market share than lose moral ground and become agents of state surveillance.
The stakes are clear. If this proposal becomes law and American firms comply, the precedent is set: foreign powers can dictate the terms of speech for American citizens. That’s unacceptable.
Privacy is not a privilege granted by the state — it’s a fundamental right. The U.S. must treat it that way before it’s lost.
The Bottom Line:
The EU’s proposed “Chat Control” plan would force messaging apps to scan all user content before encryption, in what critics say is an unprecedented surveillance regime. With growing support across Europe, the measure could pass as early as October. If it does, U.S. tech companies may face pressure to comply, threatening digital privacy and free speech worldwide. America must resist this push before it crosses the ocean.
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