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In 2021, the EU passed the Regulation (EU) 2021/1232 ("Chat Control 1.0") on a temporary derogation from certain provisions of ePrivacy Directive 2002/58/EC (ePD) allowing providers to scan communications indiscriminately if they choose so.
So far, only unencrypted US communication services make use of these provisions. In March 2026, the European Parliament rejected a second extension of the regulation – the temporary directive provisions expired on the 3rd of April 2026. However Google, Meta, Microsoft and Snap announced that they will continue indiscriminate and warrentless scanning of private messages.[1]
On 11 May 2022 the European Commission presented a proposal ("Chat Control 2.0") which would have made chat control searching mandatory for all e-mail and messenger providers and would even have applied to so far securely end-to-end encrypted communication services. The regulation is expected to be adopted in July 2026, with possible amendments.[update needed]
Chat Control 2.0
The Regulation to Prevent and Combat Child Sexual Abuse (Child Sexual Abuse Regulation, or CSAR), or most commonly known as Chat Control, is a proposed European Union regulation that aims to combat child sexual abuse material (CSAM) through mass surveillance by digital platforms.
By virtue of the legistation, all platforms would legally be required to surveil all private digital communications, thus nullifying the efficacy of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) and violating fundamental rights to privacy.
On February 26, 2026, the first negotiations of Chat Control begun. [2]
Background
The legislation was proposed by the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson on 11 May 2022.
Consumer response
See also
References
- ↑ Chat Control: The EU’s CSAM scanner proposal – Patrick Breyer
- ↑ "Today, the final negotiations on Chat Control 2.0 begin". Archived from the original on 7 Apr 2026.