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Chat Control
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European Union regulation proposal on child pornography detection
Regulation proposalEuropean Union regulationText with EEA relevanceTitleProposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuseJournal referencePreparative textsCommission proposalCOM/2022/209 finalProposedThe Regulation to Prevent and Combat Child Sexual Abuse (Child Sexual Abuse Regulation , or CSAR ), commonly known as Chat Control , is a European Union regulation proposed by the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson on 11 May 2022. The stated aim of the legislation is to prevent child sexual abuse online through the implementation of a number of measures, including the establishment of a framework that would make the detection and reporting of child pornography through mass surveillance by digital platforms a legal requirement within the European Union.[1][2]
Civil society organisations argue that the proposal would effectively mandate mass scanning of all private digital communications, undermining end-to-end encryption and violating fundamental rights to privacy and data protection through enabling generalized, indiscriminate computer and network surveillance.[3][4] Expert assessments, including a European Parliament study, conclude that there is currently no technological way to detect child pornography without unacceptably high error rates, leading to large numbers of false positives affecting ordinary, lawful communications.[5]
The first iteration of Chat Control, commonly dubbed "Chat Control 1.0", was ultimately rejected on 26 March 2026, following a vote that passed by one vote that rejected the extension of the regulation, and on 7 July 2026 revived to fast-track for decisive vote on 9 July 2026,[6] where an absolute majority of 361 MEPs is needed to stop it. Later iterations of Chat Control, commonly dubbed "Chat Control 2.0", are still under discussion.[7]
Background<br>[edit source]
The ePrivacy Directive is an EU directive concerning digital privacy. In 2021, the EU passed a temporary derogation which allowed email and communication providers to search messages for presence of child pornography.[8][9] The proposal enables mass surveillance without a warrant or judicial overview.[10]
Supporters of the regulation include advocacy groups.[11] Opponents include civil society organisations and privacy rights activists.[12] An 2026 opinion poll showed both support and opposition among the public.[13]
Support for the proposal<br>[edit source]
The European Commission's Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs argues that voluntary actions by online service providers to detect online child sexual abuse are insufficient. They emphasise that some service providers are less involved in combating such abuse, leading to gaps where abuse can go undetected. Moreover, they highlight that companies can change their policies, making it challenging for authorities to prevent and combat child sexual abuse effectively. The EU currently relies on other countries, primarily the United States, to launch investigations into abuse occurring within the EU, resulting in delays and inefficiencies.[14]
Several bodies within the EU claim the establishment of a centralized organization, the EU Centre on Child Sexual Abuse, would create a single point of contact for receiving reports of child sexual abuse.[14][1] It is claimed this centralization would streamline the process by eliminating the need to send reports to multiple entities and would enable more efficient allocation of resources for investigation and response.[14]
Proponents also argue for the need to improve the transparency of the process of finding, reporting, and removing online child pornography. They claim that there is currently limited oversight of voluntary efforts in this regard. The EU Centre would collect data for transparency reports, provide clear information about the use of tools, and support audits of data and processes. It aims to prevent the unintended removal of legitimate content and address concerns about potential abuse or misuse of search tools.[14]
Another aspect highlighted by supporters is the necessity for improved cooperation between online service providers, civil society organizations, and public authorities. The EU Centre is envisioned as a facilitator, enhancing communication efficiency between service providers and EU countries. By minimizing the risk of data leaks, the Centre aims to ensure the secure exchange of sensitive information. This cooperation is crucial for sharing best practices, information, and research across different countries,...