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Germany Deals Blow to EU’s Controversial ‘Chat Control’ Proposal
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Germany has signaled its firm opposition to the European Union’s proposed regulation for scanning user chats for illicit content, effectively pushing the contentious project to the brink of collapse just before scheduled discussions among EU member states. The move, announced Wednesday, underscores growing concerns over privacy and data security.
Germany’s Justice Minister, Stefanie Hubig, stated unequivocally that “Chat control without cause must be taboo in a constitutional state.” Hubig emphasized that private dialog should “never be under general suspicion” and that the state should refrain from mandating mass scanning of messages by messaging services. “Germany will not agree to such proposals at the EU level,” she affirmed, according to the German Press Agency (dpa).
The opposition isn’t limited to the governing coalition. Jens Spahn, parliamentary group leader of the CDU/CSU, echoed these sentiments on Tuesday, comparing the proposed controls to indiscriminately opening all letters in search of prohibited material. “That’s not possible – that won’t happen with us,” Spahn declared, while acknowledging the importance of protecting children from abuse without compromising communication security and confidentiality.
Understanding the Proposed ‘Client-Side Scanning’
The EU draft regulation centers around client-side scanning, a technology that would require messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram to examine content – especially images and videos – on a user’s device before encryption and transmission. The stated goal is to prevent the spread of depictions of sexual violence against children.
However, this approach has faced intense criticism from data protection advocates and cryptography experts. A recent open letter from leading figures in the field warned that client-side scanning “wholly destroys the security guarantees of end-to-end encryption” by informing third parties,such as law enforcement,about message contents.
Germany’s Veto and the Path Forward
With germany’s clear rejection, the proposed law is unlikely to secure a majority in the EU Council in its current form. Germany’s vote carries important weight, as approval requires at least 15 member states representing 65% of the EU population.
Currently, the landscape is divided. While France, Spain, and Italy have expressed support for the introduction of chat controls, Poland, Austria, and the Netherlands stand in opposition. Germany’s position is considered pivotal; without its approval, achieving a qualified majority appears improbable.
EU member states were scheduled to continue negotiations at the ambassadorial level Wednesday evening, with the possibility of a vote by interior ministers as early as next week.Tho, given the current stance, a swift resolution seems unlikely.
Industry and Privacy Advocates Respond
The German government’s decision has been welcomed by privacy-focused messaging services like Signal. Signal CEO Meredith Whittaker recently warned that mandatory chat controls would represent “the end of secure, private communications,” and the company has threatened to withdraw from the European market if the regulations are implemented.
European data protection authorities, civil rights organizations, and IT security researchers have also voiced their support for Germany’s position, advocating for target
