EU Privacy Plan Gains Support Amid Encryption Debate

A controversial European Union proposal to scan all private messages—known as “Chat Control”—is gaining significant support, with 19 of the 27 EU member states reportedly in favor. The plan, which would require end-to-end encrypted messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram to scan all content before it is encrypted, is set to move forward if enough support is secured by mid-October [1]. Denmark, which recently assumed the EU Council presidency, has reintroduced the initiative, and former opposition from France has shifted to support [2]. Belgium, Hungary, Sweden, Italy, and Spain also back the proposal, while Germany remains undecided [3].

The mechanism of the proposal involves "client-side scanning," meaning content would be inspected by software embedded in users' devices prior to encryption. This approach avoids weakening encryption itself but shifts the scrutiny to the device level [4]. According to Korben, a French tech blogger, this is analogous to “the Post Office reading your letters in your living room before you put them in the envelope.” Critics argue that the measure is not aimed at criminals, who often use decentralized or non-monitored channels, but rather at ordinary users whose private messages will be subject to algorithmic surveillance [5].

The EU’s stated justification for the proposal is to prevent the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). However, critics, including former MEP Patrick Breyer of the European Pirate Party, warn that the plan amounts to “mass surveillance” and the end of digital privacy [6]. The initiative also includes mandatory age verification on messaging platforms, effectively removing anonymity and raising concerns over digital freedoms [7].

The proposal has broader implications beyond the EU. Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who was recently arrested in France, has voiced concerns over increasing censorship and regulatory overreach, warning that such trends could lead to societal collapse if unchecked [8]. Durov also claimed that French intelligence had approached him earlier in the year with requests to censor pro-conservative content ahead of the May 2025 Romanian elections, which he refused [9].

The EU’s push for expanded digital surveillance aligns with recent regulatory efforts, such as the implementation of the Anti-Piracy Shield in Italy, showing a broader shift toward stricter control over digital content [10]. The timing of the proposal also reflects a broader political shift under EU President Ursula von der Leyen, who has signaled a reorientation of priorities toward security and enforcement over climate and green policies [11]. This change has raised questions about the future of digital rights within the bloc.

The potential adoption of the Chat Control proposal could lead to legal challenges from privacy advocates and force tech companies to reconsider their encryption strategies [12]. Given the EU’s significant regulatory influence, similar measures could be adopted in other jurisdictions, further reshaping global norms around digital privacy. The debate highlights the tension between individual rights and state security in an increasingly digital world.

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[1] The two faces of Ursula: Reinvention or deception at the EU's helm? · Different style, different priorities · The curious case of the vanishing Green Deal. (https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/world/the-two-faces-of-ursula-reinvention-or-deception-at-the-eu-s-helm/ar-AA1JURqa)

[2] https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/6891f91e305a424e52fc54b1/

[10] Piracy Shield is Now Fully Functional in Italy (https://www.compliancehub.wiki/piracy-shield-is-now-fully-functional-in-italy-controversial-anti-piracy-system-expands-beyond-sports/)