EU Plans Chat Control Legislation in Closed-Door Meetings
Original: EU to legislate about Chat Control behind closed doors
Why This Matters
Encryption and privacy standards in EU directly affect digital rights for 450+ million citizens and global tech platform compliance.
Civil rights activist Dr. Patrick Breyer warns of a double threat to EU private communications: EP President Metsola pushing to resurrect rejected Chat Control 1.0 on Friday, while Parliament rushes new scanning mandate ahead of Monday trilogue negotiations on permanent Chat Control 2.0.
Dr. Patrick Breyer, former Member of the European Parliament, has raised concerns about what he describes as an "unprecedented double-attack" on secure messaging and privacy in the EU. According to Breyer, EP President Roberta Metsola (EPP) is attempting to resurrect the Chat Control 1.0 mass scanning regime despite the European Parliament's clear rejection of the proposal in March during first reading. The Council is reportedly meeting on Friday to adopt a first-reading position to force the proposal through. Simultaneously, the European Parliament is preparing to rush a new scanning mandate on Monday morning before final trilogue negotiations on permanent Chat Control 2.0 (regulation 2022/0155) take place that same day. Breyer warns this represents a "blatant disregard for democratic processes and fundamental rights," characterizing Metsola's move as a "trickery" that "betrays European democracy." In response, civil society has relaunched the campaign platform fightchatcontrol.eu to enable citizens to contact EU lawmakers and government representatives. Breyer warns that the worst-case scenario under discussion for Monday includes mass scanning of private messages.