Brickbat: Nosy Neighbour

A European Union proposal called "Chat Control" is gaining support from a majority of member states. The plan would require messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Signal to scan all user-generated content, even if it is end-to-end encrypted. Proponents argue this is necessary to combat the spread of child sexual abuse material, but critics claim it would lead to mass surveillance and destroy digital privacy. The plan involves client-side scanning, which would inspect content on a user's device before it is encrypted. This would also necessitate mandatory age verification, effectively ending anonymity on these platforms.

Comments

[Kemuel]

How is the UK the only country that has Brexited? First they took away our Lightning cables and now they want to break Signal.

[Chumby]

The EU wants this so they can further control dissenting speech regarding their pro-rapefugee and anti-citizen policies.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Proponents argue this is necessary to combat the spread of child sexual abuse material...

The elites no doubt want to monitor that traffic intently.

[SQRLSY]

Never, in a trillion centuries, could I EVER imagine that politicians will use such tools to snoop, and then use the resulting poop-and-scoop to reward their fiends and punish their enemas! (Or to stalk their ex-girlfiends, ex-boyfiends, ex-robotfiends, ex-blow-up dolls, etc.).

[diver64]

Notice that the article says that the "member states" ie bureaucrats support this but not the citizens. Those in power want to remain in power by any means necessary

[TJJ2000]

Puritan Nazi's you say?

[mad.casual]

This would also necessitate mandatory age verification, effectively ending anonymity on these platforms.

Not to advocate for the mass surveillance, but you don't seem to know what the work 'effectively' means. It *might* effectively end it for strictly obedient citizens who comply fully in good faith. For pretty much anyone else who is in the country without documentation or who uses false documentation or simply passes or shares their phone or application credentials around publicly to anyone who can identify as 18, the anonymity is maintained. It could effectively lay the groundwork for ending anonymity, but age or age itself isn't uniquely or personally identifiable. Literally not effective at ending anonymity.

[Fu Manchu]

Protecting children and fighting terrorism are the thin end of the mass surveillance wedge.

[Quo Usque Tandem]

"A European Union proposal..."

Of which nothing good can come. Those technocrats are in charge and don't care about you or what you lose; but they do want to control what you can express and communicate.

[Adans smith]

The E,U. seems to have learned a lot from their 1939-45 predecessors .