Big tech platforms will once again be allowed to voluntarily scan private messages on social media platforms for child sexual abuse material (CSAM), after the European Parliament last week revived a derogation to e-Privacy rules that it had previously struck down in March.
In what critics have described as a political manoeuvre using a legal loophole, the EU’s temporary CSAM framework was brought back to the table in a vote in Strasbourg on July 9. Although more MEPs opposed it than supported it, the absolute majority needed to reject it was not reached.
The interim measures that allow the scanning of messages will now remain in force until 2028, allowing social media and messaging platforms to voluntarily scan for child sexual abuse material. They do not apply to end-to-end encrypted messages used by apps such as WhatsApp or Signal.
But digital rights and privacy organisations are up in arms anyway, arguing that the rules are draconian and amount to mass surveillance. They refer to them as "Chat Control."
'It's a big breach of our digital rights'
