- The German encrypted email supplier, Tuta Mail, is ready to continue the EU if the CC scanning bill on children (CSAM) becomes law
- Nicknamed cat control, the proposal attracted strong criticisms to undermine encryption protections
- EU members should share their positions on September 12, with adoption expected in October 2025
The German encryption supplier Tuta Mail is ready to drag the EU before the court if the CC scan bill on controversial children (CSAM) becomes law.
Nicknamed chat control, the proposal aroused strong criticism among technology experts and politicians for its provisions concerning encryption. The bill seeks, in fact, to introduce new obligations for all messaging services operating in Europe to scan user cats, even when they are encrypted, in search of CSAM equipment.
“We will not stay there while the EU destroys encryption,” explains Matthias Pfau, CEO of Tuta Mail. “If chat control passes, as we, as an encrypted supplier, have two options: Sue to fight for people’s privacy, or leave the EU. A third possibility – undermining the end -to -end encryption of Tuna mail – is not an option for us. So, we would go with option one because everyone deserves confidentiality.”
Tuta’s mail is certainly not the only one to feel this way. On Tuesday, September 9, more than 500 cryptography experts signed an open letter to warn the EU council for the risk of accepting the proposal in its current form.
With the first iteration unveiled in 2022, the Danish version of the proposal is so far that which is most likely to pass. Despite the growth of the opposition, the support of EU members remains stronger.
The members of the EU Council should share their final positions on Friday September 12, with adoption expected in October 2025 if an agreement is reached.
What is the probability that cat control will pass?
According to the latest data, 15 countries support the law (including crucial members such as France, Italy and Spain), six opposing the law (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, the Netherlands and Poland), and six still undecided (Germany, Estonia, Greece, Luxembourg, Romania and Slovua).
Among the undecided, Germany is certainly the most crucial country, capable of blocking or supporting the bill according to its position. However, according to a source with knowledge of the case that spoke to Techradar, Germany could consider refusing to take a stand at the September 12 meeting.
This is something that will weaken the Danish mandate, “even if the presidency obtains the required votes”, explains the source of Techradar.
Pfau à Tuta still considers the position of Germany as disturbing, since, unlike the previous administration, the new government is no longer clear to the cat’s proposal.
“Given the history of the ruling parties (CDU and SPD), it is much more likely that the new government is positioning itself in favor of cat control – even if it is very likely that the law undermines privacy rights granted to all citizens by the German Constitution,” Pfau told Techradar.
Nevertheless, “for us, it is a paradox that the German government gave us 1.5 million euros to develop a driving solution with post-quantum encryption, and now EU politicians want to destroy this high level of security again with cat control,” added PFAU. You can read the full statement of Tuta here.
Encryption is indeed technology that Tuta Mail, Proton Mail, Signal and Whatsapp (but also the best VPN services) use to keep our private communications. Protection that compulsory digitization and detection technologies are expected to undermine the experts.
