Chat Control encryption plans delayed after EU states fail to agree | Computer Weekly

"Europe-wide plans to require technology companies to monitor the contents of encrypted messages and emails have been delayed after diplomats were unable to agree on the proposals last night. A planned vote on the controversial proposals, known as Chat Control, on 14 October, is now unlikely to go ahead, but Denmark or another EU presidency may introduce revised plans at a later date."

"Chat Control attracted opposition from technology companies and experts who have warned it would undermine cyber security and leave companies more exposed to hostile attackers and nation states. Germany's decision on 7 October not to back Danish proposals, which aim to detect child abuse material by requiring encrypted email and messaging services, like WhatsApp and Signal, to scan message, meant that member states were unable to reach agreement at a meeting yesterday."

"Jens Spahn, Bundestag Majority Leader said in a public statement :" We as the CDU/CSU parliamentary group are against indiscriminate monitoring of chats. That would be like pre-emptively opening all letters to check whether there's something illegal in them. That's not acceptable, that won't happen under our watch." More than 40 European companies published an open letter this week warning that Chat Control would destroy privacy, weaken encryption, and severely harm the competitiveness of European businesses."

EU member states postponed a planned vote on proposals to require technology companies to monitor encrypted messages and emails. The measures, called Chat Control, would mandate scanning by encrypted email and messaging services to detect child abuse material. Germany declined to back the Danish proposals, preventing consensus among member states. Technology companies and experts warned that the measures would weaken encryption, undermine cybersecurity, and increase exposure to hostile attackers and nation states. Over 40 European companies urged ministers to reject client-side scanning and mass surveillance and to pursue effective, proportionate child protection measures.

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