The Cypriot EU Presidency intends to submit a new compromise proposal soon for the controversial Chat Control law, which would require messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal to build in a backdoor for Europol in the fight against child abuse.
A new proposal for the controversial Chat Control is reportedly coming next month after all, as noted by Tweakers. This is the name opponents gave to the law that would require messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal to build a backdoor into their encryption protocols for Europol. This is intended to combat child abuse, but critics call it an infringement on privacy.
Under pressure from experts and member states, including Germany and the Netherlands, the requirement was scrapped last year. Belgium played a more questionable role and appeared to be in favor.
EU President Cyprus now intends to submit a new proposal, according to Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel. Over de inhoud is nog niets bekend.
Risen from the dead
In 2021, the European Parliament approved temporary legislation allowing messaging apps to voluntarily search private chats for illegal material, later dubbed Chat Control 1.0. In May 2022, the European Commission submitted a much more far-reaching proposal that aimed to make scanning mandatory for all chat, messaging, and email services.
That proposal was shot down by Parliament in 2023. New variants continued to emerge but repeatedly met resistance from member states and experts. In March 2026, Parliament also voted against a further extension of the voluntary measures, meaning all forms of chat control are currently prohibited.
End-to-end encryption
Experts are unanimous: it is mathematically impossible to guarantee privacy via end-to-end encryption while simultaneously monitoring private messages. Once a backdoor exists, it can be used for anything.
The fact that the law is now reappearing on the European agenda will once again rouse critics. Privacy experts and the apps themselves are resisting: Signal previously threatened to leave the EU if the law were ever passed.
The content of the new bill is not yet known. “The current Cypriot Presidency hopes to come forward with a compromise proposal on this subject soon,” the report states.