The European Union is pushing forward with the so-called Chat Control – a measure that at first glance might look like a protective tool, but in reality massively threatens the fundamental rights of millions of EU citizens. What is being presented as a fight against child abuse is in fact a bureaucratic and technical monster that will do more harm than good.
What is Chat Control About? 💬
The EU Commission wants to force internet services to automatically scan all messages, photos and videos for illegal content. This doesn’t just affect public platforms, but also private chats and encrypted messengers like WhatsApp, Signal or Threema. That means every private conversation online could be monitored by default – an unprecedented intrusion into privacy.
Key dates:
- On September 12, 2025, the next hearing of the EU Commission will take place.
- On October 14, 2025, the final vote in the EU Council is scheduled.
Why Chat Control is Problematic ⚠️
- Mass surveillance of all citizens
Instead of targeting criminals, everyone in the EU is put under general suspicion. Every WhatsApp message, every picture sent could be screened by algorithms. This is nothing less than digital mail control – and it undermines the principle of presumption of innocence. - False alarms everywhere
Algorithms are not perfect. Studies already show that automatic upload filters generate huge numbers of false positives – i.e., harmless content flagged as “suspicious.” Family beach photos 🏖️, innocent conversations, or artistic work could all end up being flagged. This not only causes mistrust but could also criminalize innocent people. - The end of secure encryption 🔐
To scan private chats, end-to-end encryption would have to be weakened or bypassed. But encryption is the backbone of secure digital communication – whether in journalism, business, or personal conversations. Breaking encryption opens the door wide to hackers, intelligence agencies and criminals. - Potential abuse by authoritarian states
A system like this is easily misused. Today it’s about detecting child abuse material, tomorrow it could be about political content or critical opinions. What starts in the EU could become a blueprint for censorship in countries with weaker democratic standards.
An Attack on Fundamental Rights 🛑
Chat Control turns the relationship between citizen and state upside down. Instead of protecting rights, it undermines them. It directly violates:
- The right to privacy and confidential communication
- The presumption of innocence
- Freedom of expression
Conclusion: More Harm Than Good ❌
Child protection is undoubtedly an important goal – but Chat Control is the wrong way to achieve it. It weakens digital security for everyone, creates massive false alarms, and builds a surveillance tool that has no place in a democracy.
Instead of treating all citizens as suspects, resources should be focused on strengthening law enforcement, improving international cooperation, and consistently applying existing laws.
👉 Chat Control is not a shield, but a sword hanging over our freedom. And that’s exactly why this plan must be stopped.
More Information (Chaos Computer Club / Digitalcourage) is available here:
https://chat-kontrolle.eu/