- The EU revives its proposal to scan encrypted chats to combat child abuse.
- Denmark is pushing the measure through its Council presidency; Germany will be decisive in the vote.
- The scanning system poses privacy risks and could set global precedents.
- Critics warn of possible mass surveillance and erosion of digital rights.
The corridors of Brussels are experiencing hectic days following the return to the table of a debate that seemed to have stalled: The European Union's proposal to impose mandatory scanning of messages on messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal. If nothing stops it, a regulation will be voted on on October 14th that could change the relationship between privacy and digital surveillance in Europe.
The trigger was the arrival of Denmark to the rotating presidency of the EU CouncilThe Nordic country has placed the scanning of encrypted messages among its priorities, relaunching the initiative known as Chat Control or CSAR, which requires messages, files, photos, and links to be examined before being encrypted on the user's mobile phone. The goal is curb the spread of child sexual abuse material online, but the measure faces strong criticism from privacy advocates and computer security experts.
Why is chat scanning so controversial?
The novelty of the proposal lies in the automatic scanning from the device itself before communication is protected by end-to-end encryption. This means that no message, image, or video would be immune to prior scrutiny. One of the main arguments against it, defended by NGOs, technologists, and politicians, is that the privacy of millions of citizens is weakened and the door is opened to mass surveillance.
Experts also warn that the scanning system could generate a high number of false positives, with studies estimating rates as high as 80%. These figures predict a scenario of massive, erroneous complaints and an overburdening of judicial systems. At the same time, there are fears that once established, the monitoring infrastructure could be used for purposes other than its original purpose, compromising fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and confidentiality of communications.
A process full of obstacles and disagreements
The idea of scanning chats is not new.Since 2022, Several versions of the law have failed due to a lack of consensus or after clashing with rulings from the European Court of Human Rights, which upholds strong encryption as a guarantee of privacy. Poland, Belgium, and other countries have tried alternatives, such as limiting scanning to multimedia content and requiring explicit user consent, but none have achieved sufficient support.
This time, the Danish presidency is seeking a stricter approach and has succeeded in getting Several states that were initially against it now maintain an ambiguous position.Everything points to that the key to approval is in the hands of Germany, whose new government has not yet publicly positioned itself, adding further uncertainty to the process.
La The decision on October 14 will depend on whether the necessary votes are gathered to pass the law.If so, platforms like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram or even email and VPN services that use encryption They will have to modify their operation to adapt to the requirements of European legislation..
Global impact of chat scanning in the EU
The entry into force of this law would not only affect European users. weaken encryption in global applications and establish a preventive monitoring mechanism, other governments might be tempted to replicate the model. This would open up a A dangerous precedent for the future of encryption and digital privacy internationally.
The European Commission and organizations advocating for the protection of minors argue that current tools are insufficient. On the contrary, entities such as the European Data Protection Supervisor, NGOs and cybersecurity experts They insist that the new regulations would erode fundamental rights, introducing vulnerabilities and risks of institutional abuse which may mark the beginning of a new era of mass surveillance.
The countdown to October 14th is underway. The outcome of the vote, and above all, Germany's position, will determine whether the balance tips toward greater control and security or toward the defense of privacy and digital freedoms. The spotlight is on Brussels, where not only a regulation is being debated, but the very nature of European digital life in the coming years.
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