EU lawmakers are preparing for another vote on the controversial “chat control” legislation, which would require tech companies to scan private messages for child sexual abuse material. The European Parliament voted on Tuesday to use a rarely invoked urgent procedure, setting the stage for a final vote on Thursday regarding the extension of the legal framework that expired in early April.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from privacy advocates and some lawmakers. Pirate Party MEP Markéta Gregorová voiced strong opposition, stating that the urgent procedure violates the Parliament’s own rules of procedure. She said the Thursday vote would essentially decide whether to extend the derogation that allows online platforms to scan private communications.
The upcoming vote could revive rules that have been highly controversial. Critics argue that scanning end-to-end encrypted messages undermines user privacy and security. Since the framework expired, platforms like WhatsApp have been left to take voluntary measures against abusive content.
Absolute Majority Needed to Block Proposal
Gregorová noted that rejecting or amending the proposal will require an absolute majority of 361 votes. The Tuesday procedural vote passed narrowly, with 331 in favor, 304 against, and 11 abstentions. This result suggests the final vote could be just as tight.
In March, the Parliament rejected a temporary extension proposed by the European Commission, with 311 votes against, 228 for, and 92 abstaining. According to Euronews, the latest proposal was revived by the European People’s Party (EPP), the largest group in Parliament. The EPP had largely voted against the earlier measure because of amendments that restricted the scope of the scans.
Now, EPP leader Manfred Weber is reportedly pushing for the extension to pass without any changes. Gregorová accused the EPP of abusing its position, calling the procedural move “unprecedented.”
EU Member States Already on Board
Last month, EU member states agreed to reinstate an interim “chat control” measure that would allow service providers to detect, report, and remove abusive material until 2028. This agreement at the council level puts additional pressure on Parliament to align with the member states’ position.
The crypto industry is watching these developments closely, as similar scanning requirements could eventually affect decentralized platforms. Meanwhile, industry groups are looking to stablecoins and DeFi revisions in the upcoming MiCA 2.0 framework.
