Chat Control: A Real Threat to Privacy
The debate around so-called "Chat Control" is no longer just a theoretical dispute about the future of the Internet. Today's vote in the European Parliament shows that the fight for our digital privacy has entered a critical phase. Although this initiative is presented as a tool to increase child safety, as a community that cares about privacy we need to look at the facts without the marketing filter.
What happened on July 9?
The European Parliament failed to block the reinstatement of the rules known as Chat Control 1.0 (the temporary derogation from the ePrivacy Directive). Although a majority of voting MEPs actually opposed mass scanning of private correspondence, opponents could not reach the absolute majority of 361 votes needed to reject the Council's proposal.
The matter now moves to the Council of the EU, which has 3 months to accept Parliament's position. If the Council does not adopt the MEPs' amendments, a conciliation procedure will follow.
The matter now moves to the Council of the EU, which has 3 months to accept Parliament's position. If the Council does not adopt the MEPs' amendments, a conciliation procedure will follow.
What is Chat Control
Chat Control 1.0 is an exemption allowing service providers (such as Google, Meta, or Skype) to "voluntarily" scan private messages in search of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Although this regulation expired on April 3, 2026, current political action is working toward its reinstatement. This is not "new legislation" — it's a return to mechanisms that have already stirred enormous controversy in the past.
Why will citizens bear the greatest harm?
The greatest risk associated with this solution does not concern criminals, but law-abiding citizens. Why?
• Most reports generated by algorithms scanning private messages are operationally useless.
• Chat Control assumes a presumption of guilt for all of society. Every user becomes the subject of constant algorithmic surveillance.
• The risk of "false positives": every AI system makes errors. Flagging private family photos as suspicious leads to unjustified accusations and the stigmatization of innocent people.
• Most reports generated by algorithms scanning private messages are operationally useless.
• Chat Control assumes a presumption of guilt for all of society. Every user becomes the subject of constant algorithmic surveillance.
• The risk of "false positives": every AI system makes errors. Flagging private family photos as suspicious leads to unjustified accusations and the stigmatization of innocent people.
Criminals will stay one step ahead
Criminals are well aware of how surveillance mechanisms work. Instead of using platforms subject to scanning, they will move to alternative, decentralized tools or their own encrypted servers.
Our position
At MevaSearch, we believe that security cannot come at the expense of privacy. As a search engine built on a privacy-first principle, we oppose solutions that treat every user as a suspect.
Technology should serve people, not be used to control their private correspondence. Join us in building an Internet where your data belongs only to you.
Technology should serve people, not be used to control their private correspondence. Join us in building an Internet where your data belongs only to you.