Europe revives law allowing big tech to scan for CSAM

The European Parliament has voted to revive a law permitting big tech firms to scan user messages for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) until 2028, using an unusual procedural motion that passed despite more present lawmakers opposing it than supporting it. The measure, known as Chat Control, gives companies like Google, Microsoft and Meta legal cover to continue scanning, though a more expansive Chat Control 2.0 framework that could force scanning even in end-to-end encrypted communications remains under negotiation. If you build messaging, email or content platforms serving Europe, you now have legal cover to scan user communications for CSAM until 2028 - but Chat Control 2.0 could force you to break encryption or abandon encrypted offerings entirely. Start planning your compliance infrastructure and customer communication now; the next vote could strip your product's privacy advantage.