EU Parliament temporarily defies Chat Control
The EU Parliament voted against expanding "chat control," a regulation requiring messaging platforms to scan private communications for illegal content. The decision is a temporary setback for critics of the proposal, who argue it undermines privacy and encryption.
Background
- "Chat Control" refers to EU proposals (primarily CSA Regulation) that would require messaging services (WhatsApp, Signal, etc.) to scan all private messages, photos, and links for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) — effectively breaking end-to-end encryption.
- The EU Parliament voted to reject the latest version of this proposal on Nov 14, 2025, but this is only a temporary blockage; the Council (member state governments) still supports it, and negotiations will continue under the "trilogue" process.
- Critics argue the proposal would create mass surveillance infrastructure that could later be expanded to other crimes, undermine encryption, and violate fundamental privacy rights. Tech companies and digital rights groups (e.g., Amnesty, EFF) oppose it.
- The "temporary" nature means the Parliament's stance can still change under political pressure, and the Council may push forward a version that limits Parliament's ability to block it.