The EU’s “Chat Control” proposal, mandating mass scanning of private messages, is gaining momentum, according to CoinTelegraph. Nineteen of 27 member states now back this controversial measure.
Denmark reintroduced the plan on July 1, 2025, during its EU Council presidency. It requires platforms like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram to scan all content.
The proposal targets messages, photos, and videos before encryption via client-side scanning. This method inspects content directly on users’ devices, raising privacy alarms.
“It’s like the Post Office reading your letters before you seal them,” said French tech blogger Korben. Criminals using decentralized channels may evade this surveillance.
France, previously opposed, now supports the plan, alongside Belgium, Hungary, Sweden, Italy, and Spain. Germany’s undecided stance could tip the vote by mid-October.
A qualified majority needs 15 states and 65% of the EU population to pass. If Germany agrees, the proposal could become law by October 14, 2025.
The stated goal is to combat child sexual abuse material (CSAM). However, critics argue it enables mass surveillance and erodes digital privacy.
Patrick Breyer, former MEP, warns of “fully automated real-time surveillance” ending private correspondence. The plan also mandates age verification, stripping anonymity.
Digital freedom groups urge citizens to contact MEPs and sign petitions. They fear the law could become irreversible if passed.
Telegram’s Pavel Durov, arrested in France in August 2024, criticized similar censorship moves. He warned of societal collapse due to regulatory overreach.
Privacy regulators, including the EDPS and EDPB, issued strong warnings. The EU Council’s legal service also flagged human rights violations.
The proposal threatens end-to-end encryption, with AI detection risking false positives. Innocent users could face scrutiny, chilling free expression.
Austria, the Netherlands, and Poland oppose the plan, while the Czech Republic remains undecided. Slovakia supports the dystopian measure, critics say.
The EU’s ProtectEU strategy, tabled in summer 2025, pushes decryption access by 2030. This escalates fears of a surveillance state.
Signal and Telegram have vowed to exit the EU if forced to comply. Such exits could disrupt secure communication for millions.
Public backlash is growing, with calls to #StopChatControl trending online. Citizens are urged to act before the October vote.