EU’s ‘Chat Control’ Legislation Advances Amid Privacy Backlash

The European Union has finalized its controversial Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) regulation, dubbed 'Chat Control,' after member states reached a compromise on November 26, 2025. The revised version abandons mandatory message scanning—a victory for privacy advocates—but enshrines voluntary surveillance measures into permanent law.

Germany emerged as a key dissenter, joining a blocking minority representing over 35% of the EU population to derail an October vote on more invasive proposals. The legislation now allows—but doesn’t require—platforms to scan private communications, setting a precedent critics warn could normalize mass surveillance under the guise of child protection.

All 450 million EU citizens using digital services will be affected. While framed as a retreat from earlier drafts, the policy maintains pressure on tech companies to monitor content, with existing temporary scanning rules set to expire in April 2026.