EU 'Chat Control' law draws sharp criticism from Telegram co‑founder Pavel Durov

The European Parliament revived the controversial “Chat Control” regulation that would permit technology companies to scan private messages for child sexual abuse material. The vote, held the day before the summer recess, used a rarely‑invoked procedural rule requiring an absolute majority, and passed despite most present MEPs opposing it. The draft still needs approval from the European Commission and the Council before becoming law.

Telegram co‑founder Pavel Durov responded on X, saying, “Once typical of banana republics, such tricks are now used by the EU to pass surveillance laws,” and pledged that Telegram will not scan users’ private chats. He emphasized that end‑to‑end encryption will remain untouched. Civil‑society groups and privacy advocates warned the law could undermine encryption and enable mass surveillance. A broader “Chat Control 2.0” framework is reportedly being prepared, which could force scanning of encrypted communications.

Critics such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation argue that the measure threatens the security of communications, while EU officials present it as a tool for child protection.