Denmark, which holds the European Council presidency, has reportedly withdrawn the proposal that might have pressured platforms like Telegram, WhatsApp and Sign to permit authorities to display messages earlier than they’re encrypted and despatched.
The proposed laws, often called the Chat Management regulation, was first launched in Might 2022 as a technique to fight the unfold of illicit and unlawful content material by messaging companies.
A revived model of it got here up this 12 months, with critics arguing once more that it will undermine encrypted messaging and other people’s proper to privateness.
The withdrawn proposal means it should stay voluntary.
Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard acknowledged that the proposal will now “not be a part of the EU presidency’s new compromise proposal, and that it’s going to proceed to be voluntary,” for tech giants to display encrypted messages, based on a report by Danish every day newspaper Politiken on Oct. 30.
Present framework expires in April
The present voluntary framework expires in April 2026, and Politiken reported that Hummelgaard acknowledged that if the years-long political stalemate over Chat Management weren’t resolved, it will depart the EU with none authorized instruments to fight dangerous actors utilizing messaging companies.
The backtrack on chat management was reportedly to make sure a brand new framework could possibly be applied earlier than the deadline.
Tech giants and privateness advocates have fun
X’s World Authorities Affairs crew mentioned on Saturday that Denmark’s withdrawal is a “main defeat for mass surveillance advocates,” and the platform will “proceed to observe the progress of those negotiations and oppose any efforts to implement authorities mass surveillance of customers.”
Patrick Hansen, the director of EU Technique and Coverage at stablecoin issuer Circle, additionally applauded the information and acknowledged it was a “Main win for digital freedoms within the EU.”
The Digital Frontier Basis (EFF), a civil liberty nonprofit, shared an identical stance and speculated public strain “pushed the EU Council to withdraw its harmful plan to scan encrypted messages.”
Lawmakers want to surrender on mass surveillance
Thorin Klosowski, a safety and privateness activist with the EFF, mentioned in a weblog put up on Friday that lawmakers ought to cease making an attempt to bypass encryption underneath the guise of public security.
He argues that the main focus ought to be on “growing actual options that don’t violate the human rights of individuals all over the world.”
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“So long as lawmakers proceed to misconceive the best way encryption know-how works, there isn’t any approach ahead with message-scanning proposals, not within the EU or wherever else,” he mentioned.
“This form of surveillance isn’t just an overreach; it’s an assault on basic human rights. The approaching EU presidencies ought to abandon these makes an attempt and work on discovering an answer that protects folks’s privateness and safety.”
Eire will assume the EU Council’s presidency in July 2026, taking the reins from Denmark after a 12 months within the position.
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