The European Parliament has extended temporary legislation allowing tech companies to scan users' private messages for child sexual abuse material, keeping the rules in force until April 2028. The decision came after a procedural maneuver enabled supporters to bypass a direct renewal vote.
Opponents failed to muster the 361-vote majority needed to block the extension, despite having rejected the measure in March. Under Chat Control 1.0, companies including Meta, Google and Microsoft retain permission to scan emails and messages for illegal content. The legislation, first introduced in 2021, operates as a temporary exception to EU privacy protections.
The European Parliament's amended position would exclude end-to-end encrypted communications from the scanning requirement. Negotiations continue on permanent legislation, Chat Control 2.0.