The European Parliament has voted to revive a temporary exception to EU privacy rules, allowing online platforms to scan private messages for child sexual abuse material until April 2028. The measure reinstates the so-called Chat Control regime, which lapsed on April 3 after lawmakers rejected an earlier extension.
Lawmakers narrowly adopted amendments excluding end-to-end encrypted services such as WhatsApp and Signal from the scanning mandate. The push to reopen the file was led by Parliament President Roberta Metsola in late June.
The regulation still requires approval from the European Commission and the Council of member states before taking effect. Saxony’s Interior Minister Armin Schuster welcomed the vote, calling it a necessary step to protect children online.