EU delays Chat Control plans after member states fail to agree
Europe-wide plans to require technology companies to monitor the contents of encrypted messages and emails have been postponed after EU member states failed to agree on the proposals. A planned vote on 14 October is now unlikely to proceed; Denmark or a future EU presidency may reintroduce revised proposals later. The measures, known as Chat Control, would have required encrypted messaging and email services to detect child sexual abuse material by scanning content, raising strong objections from industry and security experts.
Germany opposed the Danish proposals on 7 October, arguing that indiscriminate monitoring of private communications is unacceptable. Jens Spahn, Bundestag majority leader, compared the proposed measures to preemptively opening all letters to check for illegal content. Germany’s stance prevented consensus at a council meeting and highlighted a broader political and legal divide among member states.
Technology companies, privacy advocates and more than 40 European firms warned that mandating client-side scanning or weakening encryption would undermine cybersecurity and harm European competitiveness. Matthew Hodgson, CEO of Element, stressed that weakening encryption through backdoors or mass scanning would erode digital trust and critical security for governments, businesses and citizens. Campaigners and some MEPs urged the European Commission to withdraw the proposals and pursue alternative measures to protect children without mass surveillance.
The European Parliament has promoted different approaches that aim to protect users and combat illegal content without requiring universal message scanning, such as security-by-design measures for apps, proactive content removal and faster takedown obligations. Industry leaders also warned that restricting access to strong encryption could push users toward unregulated or malicious services, increasing risks rather than reducing harm. Separate national proposals, like Ireland’s suggested law enforcement access to encrypted communications, continue to face objections from tech providers and privacy experts.
