Scientists Sound Alarm Over EU’s Proposed “Chat Control” Legislation, Citing Privacy and Surveillance Concerns
Brussels, Belgium – September 10, 2025 – A significant coalition of scientists and privacy advocates has issued a stern warning to European Union governments, urging them to reconsider and ultimately reject the proposed “Chat Control” legislation. The proposed rules, aimed at combating child sexual abuse material (CSAM), have sparked widespread debate and raised serious concerns about the potential for mass surveillance and the erosion of fundamental privacy rights for all EU citizens.
The article, published by Silicon Republic today, details the grave reservations expressed by numerous experts from diverse scientific disciplines. These concerns are not rooted in a dismissal of the critical need to protect children, but rather in the perceived overreach and potential unintended consequences of the proposed scanning mechanisms.
At the heart of the scientific community’s objection lies the core tenet of the Chat Control proposal: mandatory scanning of all private digital communications, including messages, emails, and other forms of online content, for CSAM. Scientists argue that implementing such a system, even with the stated intent of identifying illegal material, would necessitate a profound intrusion into the private lives of individuals. The technical feasibility and ethical implications of reliably and accurately identifying CSAM without also flagging innocent content or creating a pretext for broader surveillance are subjects of intense scientific scrutiny.
“The proposed measures, while well-intentioned, risk creating a digital surveillance apparatus on an unprecedented scale,” stated one prominent computer scientist quoted in the report, who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the discussion. “The potential for ‘function creep’ – where systems designed for one purpose are gradually expanded to others – is a very real and concerning prospect. Once this infrastructure is in place, the temptation to monitor other types of content could be immense, fundamentally altering the nature of digital communication in Europe.”
The scientists also highlight the significant technical challenges and the potential for errors. Algorithms designed to detect CSAM are complex and can be prone to false positives, which could lead to innocent individuals being wrongly flagged or investigated. The sheer volume of digital data that would need to be processed also raises questions about the efficiency and efficacy of such a system in practice, potentially leading to a significant strain on resources without a proportionate increase in child safety.
Furthermore, the proposal has been criticized for its potential impact on fundamental rights enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, particularly the right to privacy and the protection of personal data. Civil liberties organizations have echoed these concerns, emphasizing that the indiscriminate scanning of private communications could chill free speech and discourage open and honest dialogue online.
“We must find ways to protect the most vulnerable members of our society without sacrificing the privacy and freedoms of every citizen,” commented a spokesperson for a leading digital rights group. “The proposed Chat Control legislation appears to tip the balance too far, creating a system where universal suspicion becomes the default.”
The scientific community’s unified voice underscores the gravity of the situation. Their arguments are not based on ideological opposition to security measures, but on a deep understanding of the technological realities and the potential societal implications of such sweeping surveillance. The plea from these experts to EU governments is clear: to carefully weigh the purported benefits against the significant risks to privacy and fundamental rights, and to explore alternative, more targeted, and less intrusive methods for combating online child exploitation. As the debate continues, the scientific perspective offers a crucial and informed contribution to ensuring that any legislative response to this serious issue is both effective and respectful of democratic values.
Scientists urge EU governments to reject Chat Control rules
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