The European Union has been conducting intensive debates on a task known as Chat Control, which evokes large emotions and controversy among citizens, experts and politicians. The thought is to introduce a mass scanning mechanics private messages in communicators, besides those encrypted end-to-ends specified as WhatsApp, Signal or Messenger.
Officially, the task is intended to combat the dissemination of content presenting sexual exploitation of children, however, many critics emphasize that its introduction may mean unprecedented level of supervision of public communication.
How would Chat Control work?
The proposed solution is automatic scanning of messages, photos and files even before sending them. In practice, this would mean that any private conversation would be analyzed by algorithms.
Experts inform that to make the strategy work fully, it will be essential to breach of end-to-end encryption mechanisms. This, in turn, creates a immense risk. breaches of digital security, due to the fact that it opens the door not only to state institutions, but possibly besides to cyber criminals.
Opponents indicate that even if intentions are right, the method resembles digital surveillance on an unprecedented scale.
Divided Europe – who supports and who opposes?
According to available information 19 EU countriesincluding France, advocated the project. Germany they stay indecisive, although increasingly inclined to object. This may be a decisive origin in the forthcoming vote.
The opposition to Chat Control was expressed by countries specified as Poland, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. For them, civilian rights and privacy issues are crucial.
The vote on the task is planned for October 2025 and will be 1 of the most crucial moments in the past of the European debate on the limits of freedom on the network.
Arguments of supporters and opponents
Supporters Chat Control stress that:
- the distribution of children’s material is huge,
- new tools are needed to combat cybercrime,
- Without this solution, the European Union will not be able to effectively defend the youngest.
Adversaries respond that:
- system will make a precedent that will let constant control of citizens,
- encryption breach threatens Data safety for millions of users,
- There are also ways to fight crime that do not require specified large-scale privacy violations.
What does this mean for citizens?
If the task is adopted, every EU citizen utilizing IMs will be covered by the content scanning system. This means that private conversations, files and photos can be analysed without the user's consent.
Critics inform that specified a solution can lead to the failure of a fundamental right to privacy. In practice, this would introduce tools resembling surveillance systems known from authoritarian countries, which runs counter to the EU's existing human rights policy.
Continued here:
The European Union will read our private news. Announced Chat Control
