Denmark Revives EU ‘Chat Control’ Proposal for Encrypted Message Scanning
Nineteen EU countries back plan to scan private communications for child abuse material as October 2025 vote looms
Denmark has reintroduced the European Union’s contentious ‘Chat Control’ proposal, which would require messaging services to scan private communications, including encrypted ones, for child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
The measure was brought forward on July 1, 2025, as Denmark assumed the EU Council presidency.
The proposal has been debated since 2022 but has repeatedly failed to secure a majority.
Denmark is now pushing for adoption as early as October 14, 2025.
According to recent updates, nineteen EU member states currently support the plan, while Germany’s stance remains undecided.
Under earlier versions, all messaging service providers would have been obligated to carry out client-side scanning of private messages.
Revised texts from Belgium and Poland in 2024 and early 2025 sought to limit scanning to shared photos, videos, and URLs, or to make participation voluntary, but failed to gain consensus.
Privacy and technology experts have voiced concerns that such measures could undermine encryption, a technology widely used by services like WhatsApp, Signal, and ProtonMail to secure communications.
The European Court of Human Rights has previously ruled against weakening encryption protections.
The Danish EU presidency’s official program emphasizes strengthening law enforcement’s ability to combat serious crime and prevent the misuse of new technologies, while also addressing privacy considerations.
Negotiations are ongoing, with Germany’s position expected to be a key factor in the outcome.
The ‘Chat Control’ proposal is part of a broader EU agenda on digital security.
On June 24, 2025, the European Commission introduced the first stage of its ProtectEU strategy, which aims to develop capabilities for law enforcement agencies to decrypt private data by 2030.
The measure was brought forward on July 1, 2025, as Denmark assumed the EU Council presidency.
The proposal has been debated since 2022 but has repeatedly failed to secure a majority.
Denmark is now pushing for adoption as early as October 14, 2025.
According to recent updates, nineteen EU member states currently support the plan, while Germany’s stance remains undecided.
Under earlier versions, all messaging service providers would have been obligated to carry out client-side scanning of private messages.
Revised texts from Belgium and Poland in 2024 and early 2025 sought to limit scanning to shared photos, videos, and URLs, or to make participation voluntary, but failed to gain consensus.
Privacy and technology experts have voiced concerns that such measures could undermine encryption, a technology widely used by services like WhatsApp, Signal, and ProtonMail to secure communications.
The European Court of Human Rights has previously ruled against weakening encryption protections.
The Danish EU presidency’s official program emphasizes strengthening law enforcement’s ability to combat serious crime and prevent the misuse of new technologies, while also addressing privacy considerations.
Negotiations are ongoing, with Germany’s position expected to be a key factor in the outcome.
The ‘Chat Control’ proposal is part of a broader EU agenda on digital security.
On June 24, 2025, the European Commission introduced the first stage of its ProtectEU strategy, which aims to develop capabilities for law enforcement agencies to decrypt private data by 2030.
