Published on
27/07/2026 - 8:35 GMT+2
First developed in 2021 and now seeking approval in a watered-down form, Chat Control is the European Union’s proposed solution to combat Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). It introduces rules that would allow messaging platforms (such as messaging apps, social media platforms, and email providers) to scan people’s private digital communications for illegal content. The legislation is currently stalled, as the European Parliament and the Council have not agreed on a final text.
Supporters argue that automated digital tools are necessary to protect children online, but privacy advocates and security experts warn that the measures could effectively legalise mass surveillance.
The legislative process is divided into two frameworks: an interim measure (Chat Control 1.0) and a proposed permanent regulation (Chat Control 2.0). The first creates an exemption to the EU’s ePrivacy Directive, allowing platforms to scan unencrypted communications on a voluntary basis. Chat Control 2.0, meanwhile, is the Commission’s proposal for a permanent, mandatory law.
