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EU Proposes Controversial Chat Scanning for Child Safety

12/3/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The EU Council proposed voluntary chat scanning for child protection.
Child advocates say the plan provides inadequate safeguards against online predators.
Privacy advocates warn the plan could enable data sharing with authorities.
EU member states agreed to negotiate a new law to combat online child sexual abuse material.
Critics warn that the law could enable mass surveillance and weaken end-to-end encryption.

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Story summary

The EU Council proposed voluntary chat scanning for child protection.
Child advocates say the plan provides inadequate safeguards against online predators.
Privacy advocates warn the plan could enable data sharing with authorities.
EU member states agreed to negotiate a new law to combat online child sexual abuse material.
Critics warn that the law could enable mass surveillance and weaken end-to-end encryption.