The discussion scheduled in the Council of the European Union (EU) for Wednesday, October 14, on the controversial project known as “Chat Control”, which proposes monitoring all private messages sent in the region to prevent and combat child sexual abuse, has been postponed.
French MEP Sarah Knafo, member of the Europe of Nations and Freedoms (ENS) group and representative of the Reconquête party, awarded postponement to pressure against. The legislator classified the news as “a first victory.”
«The surveillance machinery of the UERSS is giving way, and that is excellent news. But let’s remain alert,” said the MEP, recalling that the initiative, as reported by CriptoNoticias, would involve scanning the private conversations of the population, including the photos sent.
Sebastián Lukomski, coordinator at CitizenGo, a global campaign platform, where more than 300,000 people they signed a petition to stop the project, said: «The last minute change is revealing. “It reflects the growing resistance among EU member states and the impact of growing public pressure across Europe.”
For now, this controversial plan to undermine encrypted communication has been delayed, but not defeated. The proposal remains on the table and could resurface at any time. The message from Europe is clear: citizens will not accept mass surveillance disguised as “security”. Our privacy and freedoms are non-negotiable.
Sebastián Lukomski, global campaigns coordinator at CitizenGo.
Likewise, other entities spoke out, especially the mobile messaging application Telegramthat shipment a message to its users after the postponement of the debate stating:
«Today, the European Union almost prohibits your right to privacy. “I was ready to vote on a law that would force apps to scan all private messages, turning everyone’s phone into a spy tool.”
Telegram went on to note that “France led the push for this authoritarian law.” «Both the former and current Ministers of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau and Laurent Núñez, supported him. Last March, they declared that the police should see the private messages of French citizens. “The Republicans and Macron’s Renaissance group voted in favor,” he added.
He elaborated that, although such measures are supposed to combat crime, they would not achieve it and Its true objective is the common people. “It would not stop criminals, as they could simply use VPNs or special websites to hide,” he specified.
“Messages from officials and police would also not be scanned, as the law conveniently exempts them from surveillance. Only you, ordinary citizens, would face the danger of your private messages and photos being compromised,” Telegram stated.
«Today, we defended privacy: Germany’s sudden position saved our rights. But freedoms remain under threat. As French leaders push for full access to private messages, the basic rights of the French, and of all Europeans, remain at risk,” he concluded.
The postponement comes a week after the German government will communicate who will not support the proposal. According to FightChatControlan initiative that seeks to discourage the progress of the project, Currently in the European Union there are 9 States against, 12 in favor and 6 undecided.