It is, in a way, a digital revolution that will develop in the Council of the European Union. An important decision will be made in a few days: the “Child Sexual Abuse Regulation”, also called “Chat Control”, will surely be approved by the governments of the EU Member States. And this will have an impact on all European citizens. But then what exactly is it? Who is concerned about this? And above all, what will be the consequences in our lives?
What is this ?
“Chat Control” is the nickname given to a proposed European regulation officially called the “Child Sexual Abuse Regulation” (CSAR) or Regulation establishing rules to prevent and combat the sexual abuse of children, in French.
First introduced in 2022, this measure aims to strengthen the fight against online child sexual abuse by imposing automated monitoring of private conversations, including encrypted ones. The plan plans to force all messaging services operating in Europe to scan users’ content for child pornography, whether known or unknown.
This monitoring could be implemented using technology called “client-side scanning,” analyzing data directly on user devices before encrypting it.
On 14 October 2025, the Justice Ministers of the EU Member States will meet with the Council of the European Union, which, together with the European Parliament, is one of the two main decision-making bodies of the European Union. They will decide whether this proposal advances to a formal negotiation phase. This is a crucial step because once adopted, the measure will be difficult to reverse.
Who is concerned about this?
All users of messaging and internet communications services in Europe are affected, including the millions of people who use applications such as WhatsApp or Signal, known for their end-to-end encryption. The scope of this measure is very broad, covering both professional and personal exchanges.
To date, 12 Member States officially support the proposal, while several strategic countries such as Germany, Belgium, Italy and Sweden, initially opposed or hesitant, are reviewing their position or considering supporting it, which could play a decisive role in the vote.
What consequences?
According to many organizations, including the Internet Society, this regulation poses great risks. First, it weakens the confidentiality and security of communications encryption, which could expose users to breaches and abuse. Second, if adopted, it could pave the way for a domino effect targeting other services such as VPNs or alternative messaging, thus increasing widespread surveillance.
Beyond attacks on privacy and encryption security, the project could lead to a massive loss of trust in digital services, both by users and companies. Employees, customers, and partners may fear that their communications are monitored, weakening professional—and personal—relationships.
Finally, by increasing automated collection and analysis of private data, this surveillance greatly increases the risks of sensitive data being leaked or hacked, exposing users to significant confidentiality breaches.
Politically, the process is tense, with accusations of pressure from the Danish EU presidency to force the deal, fueling concerns about the transparency of this sensitive issue. The meeting on October 14 is, therefore, a decisive moment that could seal the future of this controversial project.
Source: BFM TV
