Chat Control Must Be Stopped

Summary

Chat Control Must Be Stopped, Act Now! Illustration: Em / Privacy Guides | Photo: Ramaz Bluashvili / Pexels If you've heard of Chat Control already, bad news: it's back. If you haven't, this is a pressing issue you should urgently learn more about if you value privacy, democracy, and human rights. This is happening this week, and we must act to stop it right now. Take a minute to visualize this: Every morning you wake up with a police officer entering your home to inspect it, and staying with you all day long. The agent checks your bathroom, your medicine cabinet, your bedroom, your closets, your drawers, your fridge, and takes photos and notes to document everything. Then, this report is uploaded to the police's cloud. It's "for a good cause" you know, it's to make sure you aren't hiding any child sexual abuse material under your bed. Every morning. Even if you're naked in bed. Even while you're having a call with your doctor or your lover. Even when you're on a date. Even while you're working and discussing your client's confidential information with their attorney. This police officer is there, listening to you and reporting on everything you do. This is the in-person equivalent of Chat Control. Act now! This is happening this week. European governments will be finalizing their positions on the regulation proposal on Friday, September 12th, 2025. If you are not located in Europe: Keep reading, this will affect you too. If you are still unconvinced: Keep reading, we discuss Chat Control in more details below. If you are located in Europe: You must act now to stop it. Image: Patrick Breyer / chatcontrol.eu What is Chat Control? The push for Chat Control started in 2021 with the approval of a derogation to the ePrivacy Directive by the European Parliament. This derogation escalated to a second proposal for mandatory scanning a year later, which was rejected in 2023. Nevertheless, lawmakers and lobbyists determined to undermine our safety and civil liberties are brin...