EU mulls moderation of its citizens' private messages to prevent child abuse

The European Union is discussing a new bill that would allow the scanning of users' private messages, including encrypted ones, to detect and prevent the distribution of child sexual abuse material.

Here's What We Know

The bill would create a "download moderation" system that would require service providers to install "approved" monitoring technology. This technology would scan all digital communications for potential child sexual abuse material in images, videos and links. Users will be asked to give permission for their messages to be scanned, without which sharing of media files and links will not be possible.

However, despite claims of the need to protect fundamental rights by encrypting messages, the bill also points to the risk of messengers being used as "safe zones" to distribute banned material.

Prior to the vote, many privacy rights advocates and industry representatives expressed concerns about the bill. Organisations including the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Mozilla signed a joint statement calling for the law to be rejected. Many members of the European Parliament also spoke out against it.

Encrypted messaging platform Signal has stated its intention to leave the European market if the law is passed. "We would rather exit the EU market than undermine our privacy safeguards," Signal president Meredith Whittaker said. The EU Council's decision remains unknown but is expected to be made soon.

Source: The Verge