EU Parliament Revives ‘Zombie’ Child-Abuse Scanning Bill
The European Parliament has voted to advance a bill allowing tech companies to legally scan for child sexual abuse material, despite previously rejecting it in March. The chaotic vote and use of a rarely employed procedure pushed the bill forward, featuring an encryption exemption that pleased neither advocates nor opponents.
A Temporary Fix with Permanent Concerns:
This temporary measure grants platforms voluntary legal rights to scan for abuse material while a more permanent law, known as Chat Control, remains stalled in negotiations. Opponents couldn’t prevent the bill’s advancement, securing only 314 votes against, compared to 276 in favor and 17 abstentions.
The Encryption Carve-Out:
Lawmakers included an amendment exempting end-to-end encrypted services like WhatsApp and Signal from scanning requirements. This addresses concerns that mandated scanning could become a backdoor into secure messaging.
A Compromise That Disappoints Many:
The compromise pleased almost no one. The European People’s Party (EPP) advocated for a "clear cut" return with no amendments, while liberal lawmaker Irena Joveva opposed the scanning regime and supported an alternative amendment. Tech lobby DOT Europe criticized the delay caused by amendments. Child-rights groups emphasized the urgency of closing a legal gap that they claim leaves children vulnerable to abuse.
A Controversial Revivification:
The bill’s return used a little-known procedure that made its passage easier but left many members confused about the vote’s specifics. Top conservatives, including EPP chief Manfred Weber and four European commissioners, had pressured lawmakers beforehand.
The Battle Is Far from Over:
While the temporary bill moves forward to EU member states for approval, the fight over client-side and message scanning continues. Encryption defenders strongly oppose any weakening of privacy protections, with Signal’s president Meredith Whittaker stating that the app would leave the EU rather than break its encryption.