- More than 40 European companies urge legislators to reject the bill on children’s sexual abuse (CSAR)
- These companies warn that encryption must be protected to safeguard Europe’s digital sovereignty
- Cat Control would introduce a compulsory analysis of all private discussions
The European Union must protect privacy, trust and encryption if it wants to safeguard the future of the digital sovereignty of the block and become a leader in the global digital economy.
It is the warning of the European technological sector focused on the protection of privacy, which urges legislators to reject the controversial bill on the Regulation on Sexual Abuses on Children (CSAR).
More than 40 companies have signed an open letter today, October 7, a week before a crucial meeting scheduled for October 14. Among the signatories are some of the Best VPN and encrypted messaging services, such as Proton, NordVPN, Tuta and Element.
Nicknamed Chat Control, the initiative aims to introduce the obligation for all messaging applications operating in Europe to analyze all URLs, photos and videos shared by their users looking for child pornographic equipment (CSAM). The latest version of the proposal, presented by the Danish presidency last July, has never been so close to an agreement.
Above all, this compulsory analysis should take place directly on the device and, in the case of encrypted applications, before the messages are encrypted. A requirement which, according to experts, is conflict with the functioning of encryption and could ultimately lead to a weakening of security for all.
The European digital economy in play
The risk of violation of encryption has been the main objection to the proposal from the start.
Faced with the increase in cyber attacks, authorities around the world are increasingly recognizing the importance of this technology. In the open letter addressed to the EU, experts explain that measures such as the cyber-resilience law and the cybersecurity law stress the importance of encryption as being essential for the future of Europe.
“It is incoherent that Europe is investing in one hand in cybersecurity while legislating against this technology on the other,” said the open letter. “To become a leader in the global digital economy, the EU must protect privacy, confidence and encryption.”
Today, at Tuta, we unite with European technological companies @ecosia @nextClouders @ProtonPrivacy @eudigitals @surfshark @wetellmobilfunk to call the EU member states: 🚨 Vote no on cat control! 🚨LISE OUR OPEN WEEK: 👉 PIC.TWITTER.COM/xeBKMUNY8DOctober 7, 2025
European technological companies are particularly worried about the future of digital sovereignty of the block, which they consider essential to guarantee the independence of Europe vis-Ã -vis American and Chinese technological giants, as well as strong national security.
Technologists, cryptographers and digital rights defenders have long supported that this customer side analysis would create a stolen door to secure communications than hostile governments or other malicious actors could also exploit.
This is exactly the reason why the Danish proposal exempts all government and military accounts from compulsory CSAM analysis. An exemption which, according to the signatories, is not sufficient to protect national security.
They said: “Numerous sensitive information from companies, politicians and citizens will be threatened if the CSA regulation is forward. This will weaken Europe’s ability to protect its critical infrastructure, companies and citizens. »»
This is why companies have united their forces to urge legislators to reject any measure “which would force the implementation of a CT scan, stolen doors or massive surveillance of private communications”, in favor of proportionate measures to protect childhood.
Decisive moments
Only a few days before the next crucial meeting, Germany continues to worry Cat Control reviews.
The country is considered a decisive vote. However, the government has Recently changed position, going from opposition to the list of undecided, according to the latest data.
According to Patrick Breyer, former European deputy for the German Pirate Pirate and Jurist of Digital Rights, the Federal Interior Ministry led by the CSU is trying to force the German Federal Ministry of Justice (SPD) to approve controversial control of EU cats by today (October 7).
The encrypted e -mail service based in Germany, Tuta, confirmed to Techradar that the German ministers (of the interior and justice) meet today to finalize the position of the country while the Ministry of the Interior is trying to convince justice to accept control of the discussions.
“The digital outcry on this subject is strong enough in Germany at the moment. Adding the open letter of SMEs, we could actually have a chance that Germany remains firm in its position in favor of the privacy it had in the past,” Tuta told Techradar.
This is also added to the commitment of Meredith Whittaker, president of the signal non-profit foundation, urging all German citizens to “let the German politicians know how harmful, counterproductive and self-sabotating”.
