The European Union is considering a new law, Chat Control 2.0, to scan private communications on encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal for child sex abuse material. The proposed legislation would use AI to scan photos, videos, and URLs against a government database. If approved by the Council of the EU, the law will advance to the next legislative phase.
Proponents argue the law will help combat child exploitation, but critics, including privacy advocates and tech companies, claim it threatens end-to-end encryption and could lead to mass surveillance. The law would require user consent for scanning, with non-consenting users barred from sharing media.
While Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, and Poland oppose the proposal, other EU countries remain undecided. Critics also highlight the potential for AI errors and the risk of creating vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers.
