TeamHood 
The vote on the EU regulation aimed at combating child sexual abuse, known as the chat control regulation, has been postponed. This regulation threatened the privacy of private messages and secure encryption. Due to the resistance from individuals and organizations across Europe, the Belgian Council presidency postponed the vote. This decision is seen as a significant victory for digital privacy advocates. However, the fight isn’t over, as there is still potential for the regulation to be reconsidered.
Key Points:
- No Indiscriminate Chat Control: Searches should be limited to suspects’ messages and uploads, avoiding mass surveillance.
- Protect Secure Encryption: Client-side scanning must be explicitly banned to preserve encryption integrity.
- Maintain Anonymity: Communication services should not require age verification to protect the right to anonymous communication.
- No App Censorship for Youth: Young people should not be excluded from apps to protect them from grooming; instead, services should have more privacy-friendly default settings.
The postponement marks a crucial step in defending digital privacy, but continuous vigilance is needed to ensure that any future proposals do not infringe on fundamental rights.
