European Parliament approves interim rules allowing voluntary scanning of private messages for child abuse material
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European Parliament approves interim rules allowing voluntary scanning of private messages for child abuse material
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The European Parliament on Thursday narrowly approved a controversial interim measure allowing tech giants to voluntarily scan private online communications for child sexual abuse material, sending the proposal back to EU member states for final approval after a chaotic and politically charged vote in Strasbourg.
In a second reading of the so-called “Chat Control” regulation, MEPs adopted amendments that explicitly exclude end-to-end encrypted services from the scope of the temporary exemption, a key concession to privacy advocates. The changes passed with 286 votes in favor, 276 against, and 30 abstentions, according to the Parliament’s press service . The measure now heads to the Council of the EU, which has three months to accept or reject the Parliament’s amendments. If the Council objects to any part of the text, a conciliation procedure will be triggered to resolve the dispute.
The vote followed a dramatic reversal of fortune for the proposal, which was rejected by the Parliament in March after failing to secure an absolute majority of 361 votes. The surprise resurrection came through an unusual procedural maneuver led by the centre-right EVP group, which reintroduced the measure under emergency rules that critics condemned as a circumvention of normal legislative process. Under the rules, only a simple majority of MEPs present was required to pass the measure, rather than the 361 votes needed to block it.
The interim rules, set to expire in April 2028, would allow companies such as Meta, Microsoft, Google, and WhatsApp to continue scanning private messages and images for known child sexual abuse material, a practice that lapsed in April when the previous exemption expired. The European Commission has warned that Europe remains the world’s largest host of such material, with two images or videos shared online every second. The Commission had originally proposed mandatory scanning in 2022, but negotiations stalled amid strong resistance from privacy-focused governments including Austria and Germany.
The Parliament’s amendments now seek to balance child protection with privacy concerns, explicitly shielding encrypted communications from mandatory or voluntary scanning. “The new version could create a clash with member states,” noted Euronews, as the Council had already signaled broad support for the original proposal .
Political reactions were sharply divided. Critics, including digital rights groups and some MEPs, labeled the procedure “illegal” and a threat to fundamental rights. “A majority of European lawmakers voted against letting Big Tech read our messages. They’re going to anyway,” argued a statement from the campaign group Fight Chat Control . Supporters, including the EVP group, framed the vote as a pragmatic step to protect children from online exploitation.
The Parliament’s rapporteur on the file, Dutch liberal MEP Sophie in 't Veld, had previously warned that the measure risked normalizing mass surveillance. In a statement following the vote, she reiterated concerns that the emergency procedure set a dangerous precedent for bypassing democratic scrutiny .
With the Council widely expected to approve the Parliament’s amended text, the focus now shifts to implementation. The Commission has pledged to issue guidance on the scope of the exemption, while digital rights organizations vow to challenge the measure in national courts if it enters into force. The outcome will shape the future of online privacy and child protection across the EU for years to come.
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