PARTIALGovernmentThe European Parliament voted to reject Chat Control, which would have mandated mass scanning of all private messages. Germany's Friedrich Merz expressed 'deep disappointment' and announced plans to implement equivalent surveillance at the national level by summer.
“The European Parliament voted to reject Chat Control, which would have mandated mass scanning of all private messages. Germany's Friedrich Merz expressed 'deep disappointment' and announced plans to implement equivalent surveillance at the national level by summer.”
In a dramatic vote, the European Parliament rejected Chat Control — a proposal that would have required tech companies to scan every private message, photo, and video sent by EU citizens. Privacy advocates celebrated. Then Germany announced it would do it anyway.
Every private message on WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and email would be scanned by automated systems before being sent. End-to-end encryption would effectively be broken. The stated justification: detecting child sexual abuse material.
Patrick Breyer, a German MEP and digital rights advocate, called it "the end of Chat Control" and a victory for mass surveillance opponents. Computer Weekly and CADE Project confirmed the parliamentary rejection.
Friedrich Merz, Germany's chancellor, expressed himself as "deeply disappointed" and announced plans to implement equivalent surveillance at the national level by summer 2026. What Europe rejected, Germany will force on its own citizens.
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