Chat Control is an EU law proposal set to be approved tomorrow, which will enforce surveillance software on our computers and phones

Share this information widely. We cannot let this be approved.

Chat Control is an imminent EU proposal that mandates devices (Android, iPhone, Windows, etc.) and applications to use AI to read everything we write and monitor images/videos we send, reporting to the government. Given the unreliability of AI, our encrypted conversations would be constantly sent to the government.

This is being justified under the pretext of protecting children, but it’s not convincing. We all know what this is for. 😡

Additionally, politicians will be exempt from this monitoring - it's only for us.

The voting is tomorrow.

Only Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria and Poland are relatively clear that they will not support the proposal, but this is not sufficient for a “blocking minority”.

Don't come to me with "I have nothing to hide". That's like leaving your house open for anyone to enter "just to look around", having cameras in your bathroom sending data to surveillance companies, and no curtains on your bedroom windows.

https://www.patrick-breyer.de/en/majority-for-chat-control-possible-users-who-refuse-scanning-to-be-prevented-from-sharing-photos-and-links/

https://www.patrick-breyer.de/en/council-to-greenlight-chat-control-take-action-now/

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SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

The legislation was first proposed in 2022 to make the detection and reporting of child sexual abuse material more effective and coordinated. Indiscriminate monitoring was voted down by the European Parliament in November 2023 and a critical ruling was made by the European Court of Human Rights in February 2024.

If the legislation is likely to be revived this is because social media corporations have made no tangible effort to reduce online child abuse. It is not a "pretext", it is the moral obligation of a democratic government to protect the safety of its most vulnerable citizens.

Bel6EQUJ5

@SunshineGirl Yes, well, quite often governments go overboard in their enthusiasm to "protect" us from harm. I don't trust them. Do you?

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@Bel6EQUJ5 Believe you me, there is no over-reaction when it comes to child abuse, much of which is openly advertised on platforms such as this.

Yes, I trust a democratically elected and openly constituted government rather more than I do an opaque profit-seeking media organisation.

Bel6EQUJ5

@SunshineGirl Surely you can't be serious, you cannot really be so naive. The excuse that "we're just protecting the children" can be used for any new attempt by any government to erode our rights, especially our right to privacy. That's the point, that's what's wrong with this, and it matters not one bit whether or not the government in question is "democratic" or not.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@Bel6EQUJ5 What is more important? Your right to privacy or a child's right to grow up unmolested? People have had decades to work out how to behave decently in public. They have failed to do so, therefore regulation is necessary.

Yes, democracy does matter as it articulates the concerns and frustrations of a plurality of citizens. As opposed to the transient desires of individual consumers.

pdockal · 56-60, M

@SunshineGirl

It's the parents responsibility to monitor their children and what they are doing ANYWHERE
Maybe the better solution would be to put THAT software on their children's devices and if the children encounter a predator then let the software infect their device & notify the authorities
monitoring MY anything no matter how you try to justify it is wrong

Bel6EQUJ5

@SunshineGirl Many of us don't even have children, so why should I be so concerned about others' children if they themselves don't care (or seem to care)? Responsible parenting begins with being able to say "No" when a boy or girl asks, "Can I have an iPhone?"

Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M

@SunshineGirl America uses this exact same argument when the world uses an American browser.
Google; Yahoo; Safari etc.
Only for them it's usually done to 'prevent terrorist activity' as defined by the few at the time.

Another of Europe's screw-ups is that in all the time it's been around it's never developed it's own 'Universal Browser' so Europe is constantly held hostage to such nonsense

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@pdockal As I understand it, the greatest problem is the production and exchange of illegal material online, which need not involve any direct contact between the child and the consumer of that material.

pdockal · 56-60, M

@SunshineGirl

WTF are you blabbering about now ?????

This message was deleted by its author.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@pdockal You made an assumption that surveillance will only target adults who communicate with children online, which you then used to try to deflect sole responsibility on to parents. I disagree, as there are many other ways to cause harm to vulnerable groups. The internet is a public forum that has become increasingly hostile and toxic. The essential message is that if you wouldn't do it in real life, don't do it online either.

Thank you for your customary courtesy 🙄

pdockal · 56-60, M

@SunshineGirl

Spying on me to make you think your safe is wrong and against my constitutional rights to privacy and freedom
Doesn't matter what you're issue is
Doesn't matter how you spin it

My kids, my nieces & nephews etc are monitored with respect to their internet use
They were given the tools & taught properly & yes something can still go wrong but I'm confident they will be safe and again is the parents responsibility to educate and teach and protect their children

YOUR NOT YOUR CHILDREN'S FRIEND

you want to give up your freedoms and TRUST the government to protect you ... go right ahead ... I'll protect myself without the intrusion from the government & YOU &am willing to endure the consequences of MY actions