EU to legislate about Chat Control behind closed doors

Civil rights activist Dr. Patrick Breyer warns of an unprecedented double-attack on secure messaging ahead of critical Friday and Monday EU meetings.

Ahead of a highly critical weekend for digital civil rights in Europe, former Member of the European Parliament Dr. Patrick Breyer is sounding the alarm. An unprecedented and outrageous double-attack by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola (EPP) and EU governments threatens to impose mass surveillance and end anonymous communication in the EU. In response to this imminent threat, civil society has updated and relaunched the campaign platform fightchatcontrol.eu, enabling citizens to immediately email EU lawmakers and government representatives.

Dr. Patrick Breyer, civil liberties activist and former Member of the European Parliament, explains:“What we are witnessing this week is a blatant disregard for democratic processes and fundamental rights. EP President Metsola is attempting an unprecedented power play to resurrect the expired ‘Chat Control 1.0’ mass scanning regime, directly overriding her own Parliament’s clear rejection from March. Her own EPP group opposed in the final vote. This trickery betrays European democracy. At the exact same time, the European Parliament is in the process of rushing a new scanning mandate, paving the way for fatal concessions in the trilogue on Monday. EU citizens are facing a double-attack on their right to private correspondence. We cannot let undemocratic backroom deals destroy the safety, security, and confidentiality of our digital lives.”