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Strasbourg – Another attempt at controversial chat management! Although the European Parliament has already failed to implement this plan, an urgent vote is now required again. This is causing a lot of problems in Strasbourg. The Greens and AfD are up in arms and talk about a dubious approach. Charge: The resolution, which has already been rejected, must now be implemented.
But it is not only the law itself that is causing a stir, but, above all, the way it operates. European Parliament has already twice rejected the extension of the controversial exception. Many MPs wanted to allow automatic checks only in cases of special suspicion. Since Parliament and EU states could not reach an agreement, the project was effectively declared a failure.
background
With the so-called Chat management Services such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Google and Microsoft should once again be allowed to automatically search private messages for images of child sexual abuse. Suspicious content can then be reported to the authorities. The exemption is to remain in effect until April 2028. Supporters say it’s necessary to catch criminals and better protect children. Opponents, on the other hand, warn of a massive invasion of privacy. Automatic searches can be carried out in millions of private chats, even in chats of completely innocent citizens. That’s why data privacy advocates have been talking about mass surveillance without cause for years.
But now, surprisingly, there has been a third attempt: Parliament Speaker Roberta Metsola has returned the issue to the agenda. A repeat vote is scheduled for Friday. What’s particularly explosive is that this time it won’t be enough if more MPs simply vote against than in favor. The proposal has already been adopted, unless an absolute majority of parliament (at least 360 out of 719 deputies) opposes it. So critics warn the plan could go ahead even if many MPs miss the vote due to the last week of sittings before the summer break. This is what brings critics to the barricades.
Massive criticism of the expedited procedure
The Greens are talking about an unprecedented process. According to them, a loophole in parliamentary rules is being used to push through a resolution that has already failed.
die AfDMEP Mary Hahn (32) even talks about the democratic scandal: “The urgent procedure cannot be abused to put back on the agenda an already rejected backdoor surveillance regulation,” says Hahn. Constitutional lawyer Volker Böhme-Nessler (63) also considers this procedure highly problematic. On
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The union is against this
CDU and CSU reject criticism. They argue that without this exception, important opportunities in the fight against child sexual abuse will be lost. Federal Minister for Family Affairs Karin Prien (CDU) is therefore calling for a rapid recovery. Chancellor Friedrich Merz also called the expiration of the previous regulation a serious blow to child protection.