The European Union is set to vote on the ‘Chat Control’ legislative proposal, which mandates mass scanning of user devices for illegal material, including apps like Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp. This proposal grants governments broad authority to access encrypted messages before they are encrypted, posing a significant threat to user privacy. Signal’s CEO has warned that the company might leave the EU market if the law passes, emphasizing that such scanning undermines privacy for all users, including vulnerable groups such as journalists and human rights activists.
Advocates for the law stress the growing use of encryption by criminal organizations impedes law enforcement efforts, framing ‘lawful access’ as necessary. However, privacy experts highlight that creating backdoors in encryption inherently weakens security and can be exploited by hostile actors. The Chaos Computer Club and groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation criticize the client-side scanning as error-prone and invasive, with insufficient clarity from governments on safeguards.
Though the initial focus is on detecting child sexual abuse material, the law leaves open the possibility of expanding scanning to text and audio for grooming activities, raising further privacy concerns. The proposal also mentions potential use of AI technologies to scan content, but without specifying effective safeguards. If passed, this law could not only diminish privacy in Europe but also encourage similar measures globally, threatening the integrity of encrypted communications worldwide.
👉 Pročitaj original: CyberScoop
