Chat Control passed. Your move: Keep chatting where they can scan.. 👻 Or go ghost mode — no servers, no surveillance, nothing to get - the chat app that knows nothing about you

Chat Control 1 is back. Despite the European Parliament voting down the legislation twice this year, the Council of the European Union and parts of the Parliament today managed – through an urgent procedure – to extend it for another two years. The law was originally introduced as temporary legislation, so that its effectiveness could be evaluated. At the end of 2025, the European Commission itself concluded that it was not possible to determine whether the law had any measurable effect. Even so, it has now been pushed through. Some of today's amendments could have stopped the law. And a majority of the voting MEPs wanted to do so. By a margin of 314-276, the Parliament voted to reject the proposal through these amendments. However, since it was an urgent procedure, 361 votes were required. As a result, the majority lost today and Chat Control 1 was passed. The urgent procedure was a dirty play by the Council and parts of the Parliament – it’s a procedure not meant to be used on legislation already rejected by the Parliament. For now, Chat Control 1 will remain in effect. This means that tech companies may continue scanning communications without a warrant or suspicion. However, the real battle is Chat Control 2. Unlike Chat Control 1, it would require all providers to scan communications, and to do so far more extensively than Chat Control 1 ever has.

The EU is again debating its controversial “Chat Control” plans, they claim that will helpfight child sexual abuse online, but the main dispute is over private messages. The EU Council wants authorities to be able to order online services to scan parts of their platforms for illegal content, including known and new child sexual abuse material and attempts to groom children. The question is how to protect children online without subjecting private communications to wider scanning.

🇪🇺 EU PARLIAMENT FAILS TO BLOCK CHAT CONTROL 1.0, EXTENSION TO 2028 MOVES FORWARD The European Parliament failed to block the extension of “Chat Control 1.0,” allowing voluntary scanning of certain private, unencrypted communications to continue until 2028 or until a permanent replacement is agreed. A majority of voting MEPs backed ending the regime, but the motion fell short of the required 361 votes, failing 314-276. Former MEP Patrick Breyer called the result “a farce,” arguing it undermines democracy and delays a more targeted child protection framework. The transitional framework permits voluntary scanning of private, unencrypted messages by providers such as Gmail, iCloud, Instagram, Discord, Snapchat, Skype and Xbox messaging to detect child sexual abuse material. Critics argue the system has produced large numbers of false reports while failing to demonstrate measurable improvements in prosecutions or child rescues. Negotiations on the permanent “Chat Control 2.0” proposal are set to resume in September.

Good news: Airport security is about to get way faster now that the EU can pre-read your (formerly) private chats! 🥳 "Chat Control" just passed on the 6th attempt. After being rejected 5 times, it was sneaked through a snap vote right in the middle of the summer holidays. Brilliant. #Democry# This makes it legal to scan your private messages and photos on WhatsApp, Messenger, and email. All in the name of "safety," of course. Pure government overreach. Personally, I can’t wait for Ursula von der Leyen to scroll through my group chats. Time to crank the spicy memes up to 120%—or just move the wildest groups to IRL meetups behind closed doors. 🤫