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EU to legislate about Chat Control behind closed doors
a month ago
- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola's push to resurrect 'Chat Control 1.0' disregards the Parliament's earlier rejection, threatening democratic processes.
- Final trilogue negotiations on 'Chat Control 2.0' risk concessions leading to mass scanning of private messages, warrantless scanning orders, and the end of anonymous communications.
- Civil society has relaunched fightchatcontrol.eu to enable citizens to email EU lawmakers, opposing undemocratic backroom deals and advocating for privacy and fundamental rights.
Chat Control 1.0 vs. 2.0
20 days ago
- Chat Control 1.0 is Regulation (EU) 2021/1232, a temporary law that allowed voluntary scanning of private messages for child sexual abuse material, excluding encrypted messages; it expired in April 2026 but is being revived by the Council via a fast-track process.
- Chat Control 2.0 is the proposed permanent CSA Regulation, which would mandate detection and reporting; negotiations are deadlocked over issues like mandatory scanning and encryption, with no agreement after five trilogue rounds.
- The EU Parliament has taken protective stances, rejecting extensions of Chat Control 1.0 and advocating for targeted scanning with judicial oversight, while the Council pushes for broader scanning measures.
- Key events include the expiration of Chat Control 1.0, Council attempts to resurrect it, and ongoing trilogue failures for Chat Control 2.0, with encryption and suspicionless scanning as major points of contention.
- As of July 2026, Chat Control 1.0's revival is pending an urgency vote in Parliament, requiring an absolute majority to stop it, while Chat Control 2.0 negotiations continue under the Irish presidency.
Procedural Trick Before Recess Pushes EU Towards Capitulation on "Chat Control"
20 days ago
- The European Parliament will vote on an urgent procedure to revive the previously rejected "Chat Control 1.0" regulation, which allows untargeted scanning of private chats, pushed by the EPP group and EU Member States ahead of summer recess.
- This procedural move bypasses the Parliament's earlier rejection and requires an absolute majority (361 votes) to amend or reject the Council's position; if not met, the law is automatically adopted, potentially reinstating mass surveillance without parliamentary consent.
- Critics argue the urgency undermines negotiations for a permanent child protection framework (CSA Regulation), favoring voluntary mass scanning over targeted measures, and risks stalling efforts for better online child safety.
- Rapporteur Birgit Sippel and cybersecurity experts warn against the procedure, citing high error rates in scanning technologies, privacy concerns, and reduced pressure for a viable long-term solution, with civil rights groups urging MEPs to reject the urgency.
Chat Control passed first round in EU Parliament
19 days ago
- EU Parliament narrowly approves urgency motion to reconsider Chat Control 1.0 before summer break.
- Proponents aim to reinstate expired regulation allowing voluntary scans of private communications for child abuse material without suspicion.
- Critics argue the move violates parliamentary procedure and enables mass surveillance under general suspicion.
- Social Democrats cave to pressure, supporting urgency despite prior rejection of Chat Control extension.
- Tactical advantage for proponents due to lower vote threshold on final session day, making re-enactment likely.
- Concerns raised over AI scan error rates and erosion of privacy, with fears it may delay more effective regulations.
EU now one step away from reviving private message scanning rules
18 days ago
- The European Parliament voted 331-304 to fast-track legislation that would revive the expired "Chat Control 1.0" rules, allowing a decisive vote on July 9.
- This legislation would permit online platforms to voluntarily scan private user communications for child sexual abuse material (CSAM), separate from the ongoing "Chat Control 2.0" negotiations for a permanent framework.
- The temporary regulation (EU) 2021/1232 expired in April 2026, and the Council seeks to reintroduce it, criticized as an unprecedented revival of rejected legislation.
- The July 9 vote requires an absolute majority of 361 MEPs to reject or amend the proposal; otherwise, the Council's text proceeds without additional safeguards.
- Key disagreements in the permanent regulation involve suspicionless scanning of encrypted communications, with Parliament advocating for judicial authorization and the Council supporting broader voluntary measures.
- The EU is pursuing two parallel legislative tracks: one to restore temporary voluntary scanning and another for a permanent CSAM detection law.
Kill The Cookie Banner
6 hours ago
- The EU Commission proposed a solution to replace cookie banners with automated browser-based privacy preference signals.
- Cookie banners are deliberately misleading, resulting in up to 90% of users consenting to tracking, while only about 3% actually want it.
- The tracking industry, led by Google, is lobbying to block the proposal, fearing lower consent rates.
- Citizens are urged to contact their representatives in the European Parliament or Member States to support the proposal.
- The privacy signal proposal is part of the Digital Omnibus reform, which includes other problematic aspects that weaken rights.

Hasty Briefsbeta

eu legislation

EU to legislate about Chat Control behind closed doors

Chat Control 1.0 vs. 2.0

Procedural Trick Before Recess Pushes EU Towards Capitulation on "Chat Control"

Chat Control passed first round in EU Parliament

EU now one step away from reviving private message scanning rules

Kill The Cookie Banner