EU Extends Chat Control 1.0 Regulation to 2028 Despite Privacy Concerns and Parliamentary Opposition
The EU Council has extended Regulation (EU) 2021/1232, known as Chat Control 1.0, allowing voluntary scanning of unencrypted messages by providers such as Discord and Gmail until 2028. The measure targets detection of child sexual abuse material but has drawn criticism for its impact on encryption and privacy. A proposed Chat Control 2.0 version under COM(2022) 209 would mandate scanning of encrypted communications, which critics argue undermines end-to-end encryption. The extension passed after a July 2026 European Parliament vote failed to reach the required majority due to absent lawmakers. Investigations revealed lobbying ties between Commissioner Ilva Johansson's office and organizations including Thorn and WeProtect Global Alliance. The European Data Protection Supervisor found that targeted advertising supporting the regulation violated EU data rules.
HabrAug 10, 2026Translated from Russian