Double threat to privacy: Chat Control 1.0 and 2.0 are back
With Chat Control 2.0 still in negotiations, EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola has proposed reviving the expired Chat Control 1.0. The move triggers a double threat to encryption ahead of crucial June 29 trilogue talks, sparking fierce backlash from privacy advocates
As the proposal for mandatory scanning of private messaging in search of child abuse material - Chat Control 2.0 - is still in a negotiation phase, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, suggested reopening the Chat Control 1.0 regulation, which allows platforms to scan private messaging to ensure child safety online.
The question was supposed to be discussed today at Coreper II, but thus far, no news on the matter has been released.
The proposal was met with criticism by the privacy community on social media, and former Member of the European Parliament Patrick Breyer called the attempt “a blatant disregard for democratic processes.”
Background
In March, the European Parliament rejected the extension of the so-called Chat Control 1.0 regulation, which expired in April 2026 and previously allowed platforms to voluntarily scan private messages for child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Some industry representatives, who had not been outspoken about the Chat Control 2.0 proposal, criticized the decision not to extend Chat Control 1.0. They argued that while they have obligations to ensure children's safety online, they will be unable to meet these obligations without being able to scan private messages.
Silence before the storm
Patrick Breyer highlighted that the issue is not only with the attempt to revive Chat Control 1.0, but also with the fact that the interinstitutional trilogue on the new proposal - Chat Control 2.0 - will be held just three days later, on Monday, June 29, 2026.
In his analysis, he believes that the shadow rapporteurs will soon push the European Parliament to adopt a new mandate to scan private messages.
The advocacy against Chat Control has been unprecedented and well-organized - with a special website to contact MEPs regarding Chat Control 2.0 still available here: https://fightchatcontrol.eu/
