The European Union's controversial proposal aims to mandate all messaging platforms—including those with end-to-end encryption like WhatsApp, Telegram etc—to scan every private message, photo, and video sent by users for illegal content.
This scanning would happen client-side, meaning on users’ devices before messages are encrypted, effectively breaking the privacy shield of end-to-end encryption. The proposal, reintroduced under the Danish presidency of the EU Council in July 2025 and possibly taking effect as early as October 2025, is gaining momentum with 19 out of 27 member states reportedly supporting it, including France which shifted from opposition to support. Germany remains undecided but may be pivotal in the final outcome.
Supporters argue the measure is essential to combat serious crimes, especially as encrypted platforms make detection difficult. They cite significant increases in illegal content reported via messaging services and the misuse of encrypted apps by criminal groups.
Opponents, including privacy advocates, security experts, tech companies, and civil society groups, warn that the proposal threatens digital privacy, risks mass surveillance, undermines encryption security, and could set a dangerous global precedent.
Critics liken client-side scanning to government spyware on personal devices and question whether targeting mass communications is proportionate or necessarily effective since criminals might circumvent these measures using alternative channels.
The proposal also includes mandatory age verification measures that would effectively end online anonymity on messaging platforms. Privacy and digital rights groups are actively campaigning against the law, urging citizens to oppose it before it becomes irreversible. Meanwhile, prominent tech figures, including Telegram founder Pavel Durov, have warned about the societal risks of political censorship linked to the proposal’s enforcement.
No final decision has been made yet, as negotiations continue amid high stakes. The EU Parliament previously voted against indiscriminate mass scanning in favor of targeted judicial oversight, but the Council’s qualified majority vote in the coming months will be decisive.
So, the EU is on the verge of implementing a privacy-altering law requiring all encrypted messaging platforms to scan private messages by device before encryption, targeting illegal content but raising significant concerns about surveillance and encryption integrity.
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