EU rejects Chat Control: Victory in Europe for privacy and encryption

Diplomats of European Union members states have rejected the controversial Chat control bill. This is a major victory for digital privacy activists. 

The proposal to require automatic scanning of private messages on platforms such as WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram was met with insurmountable resistance and is now completely scrapped.

Who wants chat control systems and why?

The European Commission first announced the plan in 2020 as part of its efforts to combat online child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Many supporters of the plan argued widespread detection tools would protect children who are vulnerable. Critics, on the other hand, criticized the measure, calling it a form mass surveillance, which would undermine end-to-end encrypted communications and violate fundamental rights.

The central mechanism of the bill was to use AI-driven filtering software to scan personal correspondence on a proactive basis. This scanning would have required companies to crack encryption on users’ devices and install an electronic backdoor that security services could use. Popular messaging apps would then be turned into surveillance tools. Privacy groups warned against this approach, which not only violated EU’s General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), but also presented severe cybersecurity risks. This is because the compromised encryption software can expose users and potentially authoritarian governments to hackers.

Why was the Chat Control Bill defeated?

Chat Control has been met with a fierce backlash by development companies and human-rights organisations. Apple, Meta, Signal, and Meta all publicly opposed scanning requirements. They said that the scans would harm user trust, global data standards, and security. The European Digital Rights (EDRi)A coalition of more than 40 privacy-focused non-governmental organizations (NGOs) led campaigns to highlight how the bill could endanger journalists and activists as well as ordinary citizens who share sensitive information or family photos.

During negotiations, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands were vocal opponents. These nations considered mandatory scans to be disproportionate and inconsistent with constitutional protections regarding communication secrecy. Hungary, Ireland and Spain initially supported the proposal. However, divisions grew, making it impossible to reach a consensus. The European Parliament The Council was influenced by the fact that they had rejected mass-surveillance elements in 2023.

In October 2025, EU diplomats met to evaluate the bill’s viability. Sources close the Council of the European Union The withdrawal was due to insufficient support of member states, it was confirmed. The result maintains the status-quo where platforms detect and report illicit content to authorities voluntarily without blanket orders.

Could Chat Control come back?

Experts hail the decision as a triumph of digital freedoms. “Common sense won out against overreach,” stated Oleg Tsarev, an expert in privacy policy and EU tech. The rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, which has repeatedly declared privacy in communications to be a cornerstone for democracy.

Privacy advocates say that while the bill was defeated, it does not mean there are no threats. They warn of the importance of vigilance. The possibility of similar proposals resurfacing during ongoing debates about online safety is expected. The Stop Scanning Me EDRi’s campaign continues to monitor policy developments and urges citizens engage with policymakers.