Imagine opening WhatsApp to send a private message—only to learn that before it’s even encrypted, it’s scanned and analyzed by software on your phone. Or trying to access a perfectly ordinary website, but being asked to upload a copy of your ID or go through a facial recognition check first.
This isn’t a far-fetched plot from a dystopian novel—it’s the direction two major policy pushes in the European Union are heading right now. One is known as “Chat Control”, which would force apps to scan private messages before encryption. The other is a set of mandatory online age-verification rules that could make anonymity on the internet a thing of the past.
Both measures are framed as steps toward a safer internet, especially for children. But critics warn that together, they could dramatically reshape the way Europeans experience privacy online.
The Chat Control Proposal – What’s on the Table
Under the Chat Control plan, messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram would have to run checks on everything you send—texts, photos, videos—before those messages are locked with encryption. The stated goal is to catch and remove material linked to child sexual abuse.
The proposal already has strong political momentum. Nineteen EU countries—including France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, and Belgium—have signed on. Germany has yet to commit, but if it joins the majority, the law could be pushed through under qualified majority voting as early as October 2025.
Some of the peoples how are support this bill they have argue it’s a necessary step to protect our vulnerable useres. however there are some cyber security experts are saying it is uneasy. Once a system exists to bypass encryption, it’s not just law enforcement who could use it—hackers, hostile governments, and criminal networks might eventually exploit it too.
Not Everyone Is on Board
The proposal has split opinion across Europe. Some governments, lawmakers, and privacy advocates are openly warning that weakening encryption opens a Pandora’s box of new risks:
Making private conversations easier for cybercriminals to intercept.
Creating the possibility of mass surveillance with minimal oversight.
Threatening the safety of journalists, activists, and whistleblowers who rely on secure communications.
The European Parliament has signaled that it might block the extension of current voluntary scanning programs unless mandatory scanning gets the green light. Some opponents have branded this approach as “political blackmail.”
The Age Verification Push – Another Privacy Flashpoint
The Chat Control debate isn’t the only one dominating headlines. The EU is also moving toward mandatory online age verification as part of its Digital Services Act (DSA).
In August 2025, a growing movement of privacy advocates and concerned individuals came together to launch the “Stop Killing Privacy” campaign. Their goal? To push back against proposed measures that would force users to hand over government-issued IDs or undergo biometric verification just to access certain parts of the internet.
The campaign warns that these requirements could backfire, putting people at greater risk rather than protecting them. Among their biggest concerns:
The end of online anonymity – Forcing identification strips away the ability to speak and browse freely without fear of surveillance.
Dangerous data centralization – Storing sensitive personal information in massive, centralized systems creates a goldmine for hackers, raising the risk of breaches and leaks.
The movement has gained traction as more people question whether sacrificing privacy for security is a fair—or even safe—trade-off.
A gradual normalization of identity checks for everyday browsing.
Campaign organizers say a more balanced approach would be to introduce opt-in parental controls at the internet service or device level—without creating blanket identity demands for all users.
Why Privacy Advocates Are Worried
Both Chat Control and age verification are presented as safety measures.
Critics warn of an even greater danger: once privacy is weakened, clawing it back becomes almost impossible. History is full of surveillance measures that started with narrow justifications—like protecting children or stopping crime—only to later expand into tools for monitoring dissent, profiling minorities, or suppressing free expression.
Once people accept that basic online activities require ID verification or biometric scans, the precedent is set. What begins as an “exception” quickly becomes the norm.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has repeatedly highlighted this slippery slope. Governments already pressure platforms to remove content or reveal user data, he argues. If they gain even more access—like the ability to scan private messages by default—the balance of power tilts further away from individual rights.
Europe’s Privacy Crossroads
The EU has built its digital reputation on strong privacy protections, with GDPR setting a global standard. But these new proposals threaten to undermine that legacy. Key questions remain unanswered:
Can Europe still call itself a privacy leader if it mandates mass scanning of private communications?
Will citizens trade anonymity for vague promises of security, knowing the risks of irreversible surveillance creep?
This isn’t just bureaucratic fine print—it’s a turning point. The decisions made now will determine whether the internet remains a space for free expression or becomes another arena of control.
FAQ
What is Chat Control?
It’s a proposal requiring encrypted messaging apps to scan all messages, images, and videos before encryption to detect illegal content.
Will the government be able to read my messages?
They won’t see them in plain text automatically, but the scanning process means flagged content could be reviewed by authorities.
Is Germany supporting this?
Not yet. But if it does, the proposal could pass as early as October 2025.
What is the “Stop Killing Privacy” campaign?
It’s a European Citizens’ Initiative against mandatory age verification, which campaigners see as invasive and unsafe.
What’s the alternative to these measures?
Privacy advocates suggest targeted investigations, improved reporting tools, and voluntary parental controls instead of mass scanning or ID checks.
Final Take
Safety online is important—but so is the right to speak and browse without being constantly monitored. The EU is walking a tightrope between the two, and the choices it makes in the coming months will shape the digital lives of hundreds of millions of people.
Whether Europe’s future internet is one of trust and freedom—or of constant surveillance—may come down to how these proposals are decided.