Imagine you’re sending a secret message, and suddenly someone decides to check what you’re writing. Strange, right? That’s essentially what’s unfolding in Europe right now. The EU is debating a controversial new plan, known as the “Chat Control” law, which would require messaging apps—including privacy-focused services like WhatsApp, Signal, and iMessage—to scan every user’s chats for harmful content. (TechRadar, 2025). This could turn your phone into a surveillance tool, even when you believe your conversation is private. Read the EU proposal here.
Figure 1: Symbolizing surveillance within private chats. (Generated by Copilot)
At first, the goal sounds noble: stop the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). But here’s the issue—the approach could weaken one of the strongest privacy protections we have: end-to-end encryption. And that’s where the debate heats up.
The EU wants to protect children online. Who could argue against that? The internet is a chaotic, often unpredictable space, and predators do exploit platforms. Governments have a duty to safeguard vulnerable users, and the urge to act is understandable. If all you consider is the goal—protecting children—the proposal looks like common sense.
But here’s the catch: the devil is in the details. To scan encrypted chats, companies would have to build surveillance systems directly into the apps. (Euronews, 2024). In effect, your phone would become a mini-police officer, checking every photo, video, and message before they leave your device. Imagine a security guard stationed in your group chat, reading everything before you hit send.
Over 500 cryptographers, security experts, and tech researchers have signed an open letter warning that this move is dangerous (Tuta Mail, 2025). Why? Because encryption is like the lock on your front door. End-to-end encryption means only you and your intended recipient hold the key. If you add a “backdoor” for authorities, you’ve also left the door cracked open for hackers, cybercriminals, and oppressive governments. (TechRadar, 2025)
It’s like telling your neighbor, “I’ll leave my door unlocked so the police can stop by whenever they want.” Sounds noble, right? Until one day you come home to find burglars, a raccoon, and maybe even your neighbor’s odd cousin lounging in your living room. Weakening encryption isn’t selective—it leaves everyone exposed.
Figure 2: Illustrating the insecurity of encryption when a spare key exists. (Generated by Copilot)
This proposal has also raised plenty of eyebrow-raising questions:
- Can an algorithm really tell the difference between a cat meme and harmful content?
- Do you want an app deciding whether your inside joke with friends is “suspicious”?
- How would you explain to your grandma that her lasagna recipe photo was flagged as “potentially illegal”?
Automated scanning isn’t perfect. False positives happen all the time. What starts as a well-meaning effort to protect children could easily spiral into a mess where harmless content gets flagged, private chats are misinterpreted, and people lose trust in the apps they rely on (Electronic Frontier Foundation, 2022).
This debate goes beyond one law. It’s about whether we’re willing to trade private, secure communication for safety. Once scanning encrypted chats becomes normalized, it’s easier to justify expanding surveillance further. (TechRadar, 2025). Today it’s CSAM; tomorrow it could be dissent, protests, or criticism of those in power.
Tech companies are caught in the middle. If forced to comply, they’ll need to redesign apps for millions of users worldwide. That raises tough questions: Will people switch to apps outside EU jurisdiction? Will developers fight back in court? Or will privacy itself be sacrificed? If the EU adopts Chat Control, other governments may follow. That could lead to a world where private conversations are a luxury, not a right.
Figure 3: Comparing encrypted messaging today’s encrypted messaging with scanning under Chat Control. (Generated by Copilot)
At its core, this debate is about privacy versus security. It’s an old dilemma, but the stakes are higher in the digital era. Strong encryption has protected activists in authoritarian states, safeguarded journalists from retaliation, and shielded everyday people from cybercrime. (United Nation 2015) Weakening it—even for a noble cause—risks dismantling those protections for everyone.
Yes, protecting children is critical. But does the solution really need to involve mass surveillance of chats? Can we target criminals without listening to millions of innocent conversations? These are the tough questions lawmakers must focus on before rushing laws that could reshape how online communication works.
- Should governments have the authority to scan private, encrypted conversations?
- Can tech companies realistically balance safety and privacy with measures like this?
- Would you keep using apps like WhatsApp or Signal if you knew your messages were screened before being delivered?
I’d love to hear your perspective. The future of private communication may hinge on where we draw the line today. And if you’ve got a funny take or wild analogy, drop it too—the comments are open.
References
TechRadar. (2025, September 9). Chat Control: Germany joins the opposition against mandatory scanning of private chats in the name of encryption. https://www.techradar.com/computing/cyber-security/chat-control-germany-joins-the-opposition-against-mandatory-scanning-of-private-chats-in-the-name-of-encryption
Tuta Mail. (2025, March 19). We will not stand by while the EU destroys encryption: Tuta Mail ready to sue the EU over Chat Control. https://tuta.com/blog/posts/we-will-not-stand-by-while-the-eu-destroys-encryption
Electronic Frontier Foundation. (2022, May 11). The EU’s draft law on CSAM scanning: A dangerous expansion of government surveillance. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/05/eus-draft-law-csam-scanning-dangerous-expansion-government-surveillance
Euronews. (2024, June 3). EU chat control law proposes scanning your messages — even encrypted ones. https://www.euronews.com/next/2024/06/03/eu-chat-control-law-proposes-scanning-your-messages-even-encrypted-ones
United Nations. (2015, May 26). Online anonymity, encryption protect rights, UN experts tell governments. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2015/05/online-anonymity-encryption-protect-rights-un-experts-tell-governments
