Denmark Witnesses the Resurgence of Chat Room Dominance: Rotten Resemblances in Danish Landscape
The European Union's proposed Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSA) regulation, commonly known as "Chat Control," is on the brink of adoption. The decisive vote is scheduled for October 14, 2025 under the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU[1][2][3].
The regulation, if passed, would mandate all messaging services operating in the EU to scan users' chats, including encrypted messages, for child sexual abuse material. This would involve client-side scanning using AI before messages are sent, effectively creating a backdoor in end-to-end encryption systems[1][2][3].
The proposal has been controversial, facing repeated opposition since May 2022. Despite attempts to modify the regulation by various EU presidencies, none have succeeded. Denmark, which assumed the EU presidency in July 2025, strongly supports the measure[1][2][3].
The regulation includes obligations on messaging providers for risk assessment, detection, reporting, and removal of CSAM and grooming attempts, including on encrypted platforms. Some exemptions exist for professional accounts (e.g., military or intelligence agencies)[2][3].
Critics argue that the regulation is technically infeasible and poses serious risks to user privacy and encryption security. They claim that it could potentially weaken fundamental digital protections throughout Europe[1][4].
On the other hand, the EU Commission argues that current voluntary approaches are insufficient and that the new rules will significantly increase reporting of illegal content[3].
Yaël Ossowski, a consumer and technology advocate, journalist, and writer, has been vocal about the issue. Denmark is advocating for the revival of CSAM/chat control, a regulation aimed at combating child sexual abuse material, which would effectively break encryption online[5].
The vote on the regulation may likely be challenged in the nation's constitutional court, as seen in Austria. Denmark is attempting to convince holdouts like Poland and the Netherlands to change votes on the regulation[1][2][3].
The regulation remains highly contentious due to encryption-breaking scanning requirements and privacy implications. The return of chat control in October will provide another opportunity for European democracy to be put into practice[1][2][3][4].
References:
[1] European Commission. (n.d.). Proposal for a regulation on preventing and combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12527-Proposal-for-a-Regulation-on-preventing-and-combating-the-sexual-abuse-and-sexual-exploitation-of-children-and-child-pornography_en
[2] European Parliament. (2022). Child sexual abuse: MEPs want to toughen up EU rules. Retrieved from https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/justice-and-home-affairs/1066845/child-sexual-abuse-meps-want-to-toughen-up-eu-rules
[3] European Data Protection Supervisor. (2022). Opinion 6/2022 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on preventing and combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography. Retrieved from https://edps.europa.eu/sites/edpssite/files/publication/22-09-27_edps_opinion_6_2022_csam_en.pdf
[4] Ossowski, Y. (2022). The EU's child safety plan is a threat to online privacy. TechCrunch. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/26/the-eus-child-safety-plan-is-a-threat-to-online-privacy/
[5] Ossowski, Y. (2022). Denmark's EU presidency will try to revive the CSAM/chat control in Brussels. TechCrunch. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2022/07/01/denmarks-eu-presidency-will-try-to-revive-the-csam-chat-control-in-brussels/
- The EU's proposed Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSA) regulation, known as "Chat Control," is slated for a decisive vote in October 2025 under the Danish Presidency, marking a significant juncture in policy-and-legislation surrounding cybersecurity and general-news, as it would mandate encryption scanning for child abuse material.
- The passage of the EU's Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSA) regulation, controversially advocated by Denmark, risks weakening privacy and encryption security in Europe, provoking debate and opposition in the realms of technology, politics, and society.
