The EU still wants to scan your private chats – here's what you can do about it
The EU is reconsidering a proposal to scan private communications for child sexual abuse material, facing opposition from Germany and Poland, while digital rights activists urge rejection and messaging apps threaten to exit.
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The European Union's proposal to scan private communications for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) has resurfaced, with Hungary leading the charge as the current head of the Council of Europe. This initiative, criticized as "Chat Control," is set for a vote by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) at the end of September. The proposal allows communication providers to use artificial intelligence to flag suspicious content, requiring them to scan all user chats, potentially compromising encryption. While many EU countries support the proposal, Germany and Poland have opposed it. Digital rights activists are urging citizens to contact their MEPs to reject the proposal, advocating for a more privacy-respecting approach. Messaging services like Signal and Threema have indicated they may cease operations in the EU if the law is enacted, as it would force them to undermine user privacy. The article also discusses the potential use of VPNs to bypass restrictions if these services are blocked. VPNs can help users maintain access to their preferred messaging apps by masking their location. The situation remains fluid, with EU members expected to finalize their positions by September 23.
- The EU is revisiting a controversial proposal to scan private communications for CSAM.
- Many EU countries support the proposal, while Germany and Poland oppose it.
- Digital rights activists are encouraging citizens to contact MEPs to reject the proposal.
- Messaging apps like Signal may leave the EU if the law is enacted.
- VPNs may be used to bypass potential restrictions on messaging services.
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