The European Union is advancing a proposal known as 'Chat Control 2.0' — formally the Regulation to Prevent and Combat Child Sexual Abuse — that would require providers of encrypted messaging services, including WhatsApp, Signal, and Messenger, to deploy AI-based scanning of user content before it is sent. According to the digital rights group Fight Chat Control, the mandate, dubbed 'upload moderation,' would apply to text, images, videos, and links sent by all users, not just those suspected of wrongdoing.
What is 'Upload Moderation'?
Per Fight Chat Control's analysis, the scanning would occur on the user's device before encryption is applied — a technique known as client-side scanning. If the AI system flags content as a likely match for illegal material, the content and associated user data would be forwarded to law enforcement.
The Case Against It
Fight Chat Control and other privacy advocates argue the proposal is incompatible with end-to-end encryption, since scanning before encryption undermines the guarantee that only sender and receiver can read a message. Their stated objections include:
- Breaking encryption's core guarantee by inspecting content before it is protected.
- False positives, since AI detection systems are imperfect and could flag innocent photos, medical information, or private conversations.
- Risk of repurposing the scanning infrastructure for surveillance beyond CSAM, such as monitoring political speech or journalism.
- New security vulnerabilities, as any built-in scanning mechanism could itself be exploited by hackers or hostile states.
Why It Matters
The debate over Chat Control 2.0 is one of the most closely watched digital-rights fights in the EU, pitting child-safety enforcement against the preservation of end-to-end encryption. The proposal's ultimate fate — whether it advances through the EU legislative process in its current form, is amended, or is dropped — will shape what private communication looks like for EU citizens and could influence similar debates elsewhere. This article summarizes claims made by an advocacy organization opposed to the proposal; readers should consult official EU Council and Parliament documents for the current legislative text and status.