EU moves Chat Control forward with compromise on CSAM scans
European Union member states on Wednesday reached a Council agreement to advance the “Chat Control” regulation aimed at combating child sexual abuse material (CSAM) across messaging platforms and online services, moving the file into final negotiations with the European Parliament. Danish Minister for Justice Peter Hummelgaard said, “Every year, millions of files are shared that depict the sexual abuse of children… This is completely unacceptable. Therefore, I’m glad that the member states have finally agreed on a way forward that includes a number of obligations for providers of communication services.”
The accord follows years of divisions among governments and privacy advocates and sets the stage for talks on when and how platforms may be required to detect suspected child sexual abuse and grooming. The current CSAM framework is scheduled to expire on April 3, 2026, and is expected to be replaced by the new legislation, subject to detailed negotiations with European Parliament lawmakers.
EU Chat Control: key provisions
The latest Council draft retains the core CSAM regime while revising how platforms should respond. Service providers would continue to assess how their products could be misused and implement mitigation measures. They would also be required to cooperate with a newly created EU Centre on Child Sexual Abuse to support implementation and would face oversight by national authorities if they fail to comply.
While the text removes an explicit mandate to scan all private messages, it extends the legal basis for “voluntary” CSAM detection indefinitely and calls for stricter risk-management obligations for platforms.
A compromise that satisfies neither side
To break the impasse, Danish negotiators proposed dropping the blanket scanning requirement that would have compelled end-to-end encrypted services such as Signal and WhatsApp to systematically search users’ messages for illegal content.
The compromise drew criticism from both sides. Law enforcement officials argue abusive material will persist within fully encrypted services, while digital rights organizations warn the deal enables broader monitoring of private communications and potential mass surveillance, according to a Thursday report by Politico.
Lead negotiator and Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Javier Zarzalejos, urged the Council and Parliament to start talks immediately. He emphasized the need for a legislative framework that prevents and combats online child sexual abuse while safeguarding encryption.
“I am committed to work with all political groups, the Commission, and member states in the Council in the coming months in order to agree on a legally sound and balanced legislative text that contributes to effectively prevent and combating child sexual abuse online,” he said.
The Council welcomed progress on protecting children online. Former Dutch Member of Parliament Rob Roos criticized the approach, comparing it to the “East German era” and claiming it strips 450 million EU citizens of their privacy. He argued that Brussels was acting “behind closed doors” and warned that “Europe risks sliding into digital authoritarianism.”
Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov said EU officials would be exempt from monitoring. In a post on X, he stated that the EU is using strong public emotions about child protection to justify mass surveillance and censorship and that proposed surveillance laws exempt EU officials from having their own messages scanned.
Privacy under scrutiny amid a wider global crackdown
The push on Chat Control coincides with broader global actions targeting privacy tools. European regulators and law enforcement have pursued high-profile cases against crypto privacy projects like Tornado Cash, while U.S. authorities have charged developers linked to Samurai Wallet with alleged money-laundering and sanctions violations, placing privacy-preserving software under intensified scrutiny.
In response, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin reiterated support for privacy as a core principle, donating 128 ETH each (roughly $760,000) to decentralized messaging projects Session and SimpleX Chat, citing their role in “preserving our digital privacy.”
Session president Alexander Linton said regulatory and technical shifts are “threatening the future of private messaging,” while co-founder Chris McCabe noted the priority is raising global awareness.
Stay informed, read the latest news right now!
Disclaimer
The content on TrustsCrypto.com is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile, always do your own research before making decisions.
Some content may be assisted by AI and reviewed by our editorial team, but accuracy is not guaranteed. TrustsCrypto.com is not responsible for any losses resulting from the use of information provided.
