EU Council revives lapsed 'Chat Control 1.0' scanning rule via fast-track written procedure
The EU Council adopted a position by written procedure to reactivate 'Chat Control 1.0' — the voluntary regime letting messaging providers scan private chats with AI and hash-matching for abuse material — which lapsed on April 3 after Parliament rejected an extension 311-228. The maneuver is procedural, not a new mandatory-scanning law: a legally identical proposal now sits in second reading, timed for a vote on the last session day before summer break, where only an absolute majority of MEPs can stop it.
Source: heise.de ↗
Since the end of 2020, internet-based, number-independent communication services such as messenger apps, webmail, and VoIP telephony have been subject to the strict provisions of the European E-Privacy Directive.
heise.de
Why this matters
- → EU bypasses Parliament's rejection via procedural trick before summer break
- → Mass chat scanning resumes despite failed mandatory extension vote
- → Privacy protections weakened through expedited procedure timing
Democracy bypassed