Chat control law advances despite privacy fears

In a landmark decision to combat the proliferation of child sexual abuse material online, EU member states have agreed on a negotiating mandate for a contentious new law that will permanently extend voluntary scanning of digital platforms and establish a dedicated enforcement agency, reports The Cyber Express.

The Council's position, endorsed despite opposition from several nations, paves the way for negotiations with the European Parliament to begin in 2026. Under the framework, a new EU Centre on Child Sexual Abuse will be created to manage reports from tech companies, assess platform risks, and support law enforcement.

While proponents like Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard argue the measures are essential, citing millions of abusive files shared annually, critics, including privacy advocates and some member states, warned the law could mandate mass surveillance and undermine end-to-end encryption.

The agreement seeks to address a crisis where over 60% of flagged abuse content is hosted on EU servers, setting the stage for a fierce debate over privacy and security.