EU talks on Chat Control 2.0 restart as Parliament pushes controversial scan law

European Union officials say negotiations on the proposed Chat Control 2.0 regulation have regained momentum after a period of stagnation. The draft would require messaging platforms to scan private communications for child sexual abuse material, extending the temporary exception that allowed voluntary scanning under Chat Control 1.0. Dutch Justice Minister Van Weel noted that the Irish EU presidency is now leading discussions on detection mandates and the location of an EU centre that would receive and assess flagged content.

The European Parliament recently used an urgent procedure to extend the temporary scanning exception until 2028, despite criticism of the voting tactic that bypassed a normal majority requirement. Lawmakers and civil‑rights groups warn that the permanent version could undermine end‑to‑end encryption, generate large numbers of false‑positive reports, and erode privacy. Experts such as Stefano Zanero of the Politecnico di Milano highlight technical difficulties in accurately identifying illegal material and the risk of mass surveillance if client‑side scanning is imposed.

Parliament’s vote, the ongoing debate over detection orders, and the push for a permanent legal framework illustrate the clash between child‑protection goals and digital‑rights concerns across the EU.