New EU push for chat control: Will messenger services be blocked in Europe?
The EU is proposing a bill to monitor private messages for illegal content, risking encryption and prompting opposition from platforms like Signal, while critics warn of privacy violations and ineffectiveness.
Read original article
The European Union is advancing a controversial bill aimed at monitoring private messages and chats for illegal content, particularly related to child sexual abuse. The proposal, which has been leaked, allows messaging service providers to choose whether to use artificial intelligence for identifying suspicious content but mandates that they search all communications for known illegal material. This requirement could compromise end-to-end encryption, a feature that ensures user privacy. Messaging platforms like Signal and Threema have expressed their refusal to implement such surveillance measures, indicating they would cease operations in the EU if the bill passes. Critics, including Patrick Breyer, argue that the legislation is ineffective and could lead to unnecessary surveillance of law-abiding citizens, ultimately failing to protect victims of abuse. Breyer urges EU citizens to advocate against the bill, warning that it could lead to a significant loss of digital privacy and the ability to use secure messaging services. The EU governments are expected to take a stance on the proposal by September 23, with a ministerial endorsement scheduled for October 10.
- The EU is proposing a bill to monitor private messages for illegal content.
- Messaging services may be forced to compromise encryption to comply with the law.
- Platforms like Signal and Threema oppose the bill and may exit the EU market.
- Critics argue the bill is ineffective and could harm digital privacy.
- EU citizens are encouraged to voice their opposition to the proposed legislation.
Related
EU Council has withdrawn the vote on Chat Control
The EU Council withdrew the vote on Belgium's Chat Control plan due to lack of support. Critics raised privacy concerns over monitoring chat messages and client-side scanning. Uncertainty looms as discussions resume post-summer.
EU cancels vote on private chat app law amid encryption concerns
The European Union cancels vote on law targeting child sexual abuse material over encryption concerns. Proposed measures involve scanning images on messaging apps, sparking privacy debates among member states. Negotiations ongoing.
Content Moderation on End-to-End Encrypted Systems: A Legal Analysis
Content moderation on E2EE systems like Signal and Google Messages raises legal questions. Technologies like message franking aim to enable moderation while preserving privacy, sparking debates on legal implications and challenges.
EU investigating if Telegram played down user numbers to avoid regulation
The EU is investigating Telegram for potentially misrepresenting user numbers to avoid stricter regulations under the Digital Services Act, which could significantly impact its operations in Europe.
Danish Justice Minister Under Fire for Pushing Encryption Ban While Using It
Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard faces criticism for advocating a ban on encrypted messaging apps while using them himself, amid calls for transparency from parliament members also utilizing these services.
5 commentsHosting on own messaging server or relying on the global matrix servers is still grounds for debate.
Most legislation of its members comes from the EU in a rather undemocratic process. I have lost faith in the idea for it not to become bureaucratic madness. The bad does outweigh the benefits.
What happens from dumb cases like an IRC server to more "complex" cases like running my own "matrix" servers?
On a more serious note: Nicola Gratteri, an italian magistrate known to be the most wanted (dead) by the mafia in italy, has said in many occasions that the mafia has strong enough funding (duh) and competencies to "build their own whatsapp", as in building its own telecommunication network for covert communications outside of mainstream/public services.
youtube short, excerpt from an interview (in italian, though): https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JkPeyFrSJrk
So who's gonna benefit from chat control? Most likely authoritarian states that have one more tool to prosecute citizens and dissidents.
Related
EU Council has withdrawn the vote on Chat Control
The EU Council withdrew the vote on Belgium's Chat Control plan due to lack of support. Critics raised privacy concerns over monitoring chat messages and client-side scanning. Uncertainty looms as discussions resume post-summer.
EU cancels vote on private chat app law amid encryption concerns
The European Union cancels vote on law targeting child sexual abuse material over encryption concerns. Proposed measures involve scanning images on messaging apps, sparking privacy debates among member states. Negotiations ongoing.
Content Moderation on End-to-End Encrypted Systems: A Legal Analysis
Content moderation on E2EE systems like Signal and Google Messages raises legal questions. Technologies like message franking aim to enable moderation while preserving privacy, sparking debates on legal implications and challenges.
EU investigating if Telegram played down user numbers to avoid regulation
The EU is investigating Telegram for potentially misrepresenting user numbers to avoid stricter regulations under the Digital Services Act, which could significantly impact its operations in Europe.
Danish Justice Minister Under Fire for Pushing Encryption Ban While Using It
Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard faces criticism for advocating a ban on encrypted messaging apps while using them himself, amid calls for transparency from parliament members also utilizing these services.