EU Backs Chat Control Extension, but the Bigger Fight Over Encrypted Messages Lies Ahead
Lawmakers kept voluntary scanning rules in place while talks continue on permanent EU child abuse detection measures, with encrypted chats excluded from the exemption.
- On Thursday, the European Parliament voted to extend temporary rules allowing companies to voluntarily detect child sexual abuse material , preserving an ePrivacy exemption until April 2028.
- The previous framework expired on April 3, 2026, after Parliament rejected an extension; this measure serves as a stopgap while lawmakers negotiate permanent rules known as 'Chat Control 2'.
- MEPs narrowly failed to block the Council's position, with the rejection proposal receiving 314 votes against the required 361, while the amendment explicitly excludes communications using end-to-end encryption.
- Providers like WhatsApp, Microsoft, and Google may continue voluntary detection efforts provided they implement strict safeguards including mandatory data protection assessments, human review, and reporting obligations.
- French MEP Chaibi criticized the outcome, warning that 'Chat Control 1.0 has passed' and stating supporters carry 'immense responsibility' for impacts as permanent privacy negotiations continue.
12 Articles
12 Articles
EU Backs Chat Control Extension, but the Bigger Fight Over Encrypted Messages Lies Ahead
The European Parliament has backed a limited extension of temporary rules that let online platforms voluntarily detect child sexual abuse material in private communications, while keeping end‑to‑end encrypted messages outside the scope as lawmakers wrangle over permanent EU rules. The vote preserves an interim exemption from the bloc's ePrivacy rules, allowing providers to continue voluntary detection efforts while the EU negotiates a permanent …
The European Parliament approved an exception to privacy legislation on Thursday. Thanks to this exception, chat services such as Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram are once again allowed to voluntarily scan messages for images of child abuse.
Here you will find information on the topic "Children's Protection". Read now "Sachsen's Interior Minister welcomes EU vote on chat control".
Despite criticism of the "chat control" of data protectionists, the possibility of scanning private chats on child pornographic material could come back.What should Whatsapp and Co. then again?Companies like Whatsapp, Microsoft, Google and Co. could soon be able to search for references to sexual child abuse in private chats again.After a surprising turnaround in the debate about the so-called chat control, the EU Parliament in a chaotic vote ap…
EU Parliament backs extension of chat monitoring to detect child abuse
The European Parliament on Thursday voted in favour of temporarily allowing companies such as WhatsApp, Microsoft and Google to continue to scan private chats for signs of child sexual abuse material. A previous arrangement allowing messaging services an exemption from EU data protection rules to monitor for signs of child abuse expired in April, after the European Parliament refused to extend it without amendments. European Parliament President…
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