EU Parliament Revives Controversial Bill for Tech CSAM Scanning

WHO:

Techmeme - The EU Parliament is involved in advancing the bill.

Wired - European lawmakers are mentioned as voting on the bill.

WHAT:

Cointelegraph - The EU parliament has passed the "chat control" bill, allowing private chat scans for abuse material until 2028.

Techmeme - The EU Parliament has advanced a bill that allows tech companies to scan for child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Wired - The bill is referred to as the “chat control” bill, which permits companies to scan personal texts, emails, and social media messages for child abuse material.

WHERE:

Techmeme - The actions are taking place within the European Union.

WHEN:

Techmeme - The proposal was previously rejected in March.

WHY:

Techmeme - The revival of the proposal is attributed to top-level pressure and obscure procedures.

HOW:

Techmeme - The bill includes an exemption for end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) services like WhatsApp.

(UPDATED July 10, 2026 08:10 UTC)

The EU parliament has approved the controversial "chat control" bill, which permits private chat scans for abusive material until 2028. This legislation aims to enhance online safety by monitoring communications for harmful content. Supporters argue it will help protect vulnerable individuals, while critics raise concerns about privacy and surveillance.

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(UPDATED July 9, 2026 20:37 UTC)

The EU Parliament has advanced a significant bill known as the "chat control" bill, which allows tech companies to scan personal texts, emails, and social media messages for child sexual abuse material. This proposal, which had been previously rejected in March, is now moving forward due to top-level pressure and complex procedures, while also including an exemption for end-to-end encrypted services like WhatsApp. European lawmakers are expected to vote on this bill soon, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing discussion about online safety and privacy.