For over three years, talks have stalled over whether providers should be forced to scan every user’s messages for possible illegal material and forward anything suspicious to law enforcement.
The European Commission is still pushing for a universal scanning requirement.
In contrast, the European Parliament insists any checks should apply only to unencrypted messages from people already under suspicion. Attempts to strike a deal have repeatedly fallen apart, with Poland the latest presidency to walk away without an agreement.
July brought a change in leadership of the Council of the EU, with Denmark stepping in and putting chat scanning back at the top of the legislative pile. Copenhagen wants this handled as a priority and wasted no time tabling a new draft on its very first day in charge.
Leaked records from a closed door July meeting show the Danish text closely tracks earlier proposals from Belgium and Hungary, with no concessions for encrypted conversations. A softer version from Poland, which would have made scanning voluntary and left encrypted chats alone, has been dropped entirely. …
Italy, Spain and Hungary have been in favour of mandatory chat scanning from the start. France could tip the balance since blocking the plan requires four countries representing at least 35% of the EU’s population. Paris has moved from tentative support to saying it could “basically support the proposal.” …
Denmark has already circulated a lightly revised second draft. The next round of Council negotiations is set for September 12th, with advocates hoping for final adoption by October 14th.....<<<Read More>>>...
