Stop Chat Control

The EU Commission has proposed a law that would mandate the scanning of all private messages, photos, and files of every citizen. It's an unprecedented attack on digital privacy and end-to-end encryption.

What is Chat Control?

Under the guise of protecting children, the EU's "Chat Control" proposal aims to force service providers (like WhatsApp, Signal, and email hosts) to automatically scan all user communications for illegal content. Because modern messengers use end-to-end encryption (E2EE), the only way to scan these messages is by implementing Client-Side Scanning (CSS).

CSS means your phone or computer will scan your files and messages before they are encrypted and sent. If an algorithm flags something suspicious, it reports you to authorities without your knowledge. This effectively turns every citizen's device into a pocket spy.

End-to-End Encryption Dies

Encryption is meaningless if your messages are intercepted and read before being encrypted. Chat Control fundamentally breaks the trust model of secure communications, leaving journalists, whistleblowers, and everyday people vulnerable.

The False Positive Nightmare

Algorithms are flawed. They frequently flag innocent photos (like family beach pictures or medical images) as illegal. This means innocent citizens will face police investigations, account bans, and massive invasions of privacy.

A Blueprint for Dictators

Once the infrastructure for mass surveillance is built, it can be easily repurposed. Authoritarian regimes could use the exact same backdoor to scan for political dissent, protests, or LGBTQ+ content.

Who opposes it?

The proposal has faced unprecedented backlash from across the globe. Opponents include:

  • Hundreds of Security Experts who warn that backdooring encryption makes everyone unsafe from hackers and state actors.
  • The UN Human Rights Commissioner and the European Data Protection Board.
  • Child Protection NGOs who argue that mass scanning is ineffective and diverts resources from targeted, effective police work.
  • Service Providers like Signal, Threema, and Proton, who have stated they would rather leave the EU market than compromise their encryption.

Take Action & Stay Updated

You can get politically involved and stay updated on the legislation through these incredible advocacy organizations:

Stop Scanning Me

The central civil society campaign fighting against the EU's CSAM detection regulation.

Patrick Breyer

Comprehensive legal breakdowns, news, and 5-point action plans by former MEP Dr. Patrick Breyer.

EDRi

The umbrella coalition of European civil rights organisations defending privacy across the EU.

EFF

Global digital freedom organization covering international implications of client-side scanning.