{"id":50239,"date":"2025-11-28T15:50:58","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T20:50:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/?p=50239"},"modified":"2026-07-09T13:34:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T17:34:02","slug":"eu-council-approves-new-chat-control-mandate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/2025\/11\/28\/eu-council-approves-new-chat-control-mandate\/","title":{"rendered":"EU Council Approves New “Chat Control” Mandate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ken Macon<\/a> (Hacker<\/a> News<\/a>):<\/p>\n

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European governments have taken another step toward reviving the EU’s controversial Chat Control agenda<\/a>, approving a new negotiating mandate for the Child Sexual Abuse Regulation in a closed session of the Council of the European Union on November 26.<\/p>\n

The measure, presented as a tool for child protection, is once again drawing heavy criticism for its surveillance implications and the way it reshapes private digital communication in Europe.<\/p>\n

Unlike earlier drafts, this version drops the explicit obligation<\/a> for companies to scan all private messages but quietly introduces what opponents describe as an indirect system of pressure.<\/p>\n

It rewards or penalizes online services depending on whether they agree to carry out “voluntary” scanning, effectively making intrusive monitoring a business expectation rather than a legal requirement.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

He warned that the framework also brings “anonymity-breaking age checks” that will turn ordinary online use into an exercise in identity verification.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

It’s unclear to me whether iMessage’s existing Communication Safety<\/a> features are compliant or whether Apple would have to add more aggressive scanning.<\/p>\n\n

Previously:<\/p>\n