Denmark, currently holding the European Council presidency, has reportedly withdrawn a proposal that would have compelled platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal to permit authorities to screen messages before they are encrypted and transmitted.
The proposed legislation, known as Chat Control, was initially introduced in May 2022 as a strategy to combat the proliferation of illicit and illegal content across messaging services.
A renewed version of this proposal emerged this year, with critics once again asserting that it would infringe upon encrypted messaging and individuals' right to privacy.
The withdrawal of this proposal signifies that such screening will remain voluntary.
Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard stated that the proposal will now "not be part of the EU presidency’s new compromise proposal, and that it will continue to be voluntary" for tech giants to screen encrypted messages, according to a report by Danish daily newspaper Politiken on Oct. 30.
Current Framework Expires in April
The existing voluntary framework is set to expire in April 2026. Politiken reported that Hummelgaard indicated that if the years-long political stalemate surrounding Chat Control was not resolved, the EU would be left without any legal instruments to counter bad actors utilizing messaging services.
The decision to backtrack on Chat Control was reportedly made to ensure that a new framework could be implemented before the approaching deadline.
Tech Giants and Privacy Advocates Celebrate
X's Global Government Affairs team announced on Saturday that Denmark’s withdrawal represents a "major defeat for mass surveillance advocates." The platform stated it will "continue to monitor the progress of these negotiations and oppose any efforts to implement government mass surveillance of users."
Patrick Hansen, the director of EU Strategy and Policy at stablecoin issuer Circle, also welcomed the news, stating it was a "Major win for digital freedoms in the EU."
The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a civil liberties nonprofit organization, shared a similar sentiment, speculating that public pressure "pushed the EU Council to withdraw its dangerous plan to scan encrypted messages."
Lawmakers Need to Give Up on Mass Surveillance
Thorin Klosowski, a security and privacy activist with the EFF, stated in a blog post on Friday that lawmakers should cease attempting to circumvent encryption under the pretense of public safety.
He argues that the focus should instead be on "developing real solutions that don’t violate the human rights of people around the world."
"As long as lawmakers continue to misunderstand the way encryption technology works, there is no way forward with message-scanning proposals, not in the EU or anywhere else," he said.
"This sort of surveillance is not just an overreach; it’s an attack on fundamental human rights. The coming EU presidencies should abandon these attempts and work on finding a solution that protects people’s privacy and security."
Ireland is scheduled to assume the EU Council’s presidency in July 2026, taking over from Denmark after its year in the role.