Suspicionless mass surveillance: EU data protection officer against indiscriminate scanning in voluntary chat control

The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) has voiced strong concerns regarding the potential extension of an exception allowing for voluntary chat scanning by major tech companies. This exception, initially intended as a temporary measure, permits platforms like Meta, Google, and Microsoft to scan chat messages for child sexual abuse material. The EDPS insists that significant safeguards against indiscriminate mass surveillance must be implemented before any renewal is considered, highlighting ongoing issues with the current framework. The proposal, put forth by the EU Commission, suggests continuing the allowance for companies to employ scanning technologies. However, Wojciech Wiewiórowski, the EDPS, is advocating for legal constraints to prevent general and indiscriminate monitoring. His office stresses that these restrictions must be rigorously adhered to by tech giants, deeming a simple renewal without effective oversight mechanisms "highly problematic" and potentially a violation of fundamental rights. These mandated limitations are crucial to address concerns that widespread, automated chat surveillance constitutes a breach of fundamental rights. The EDPS has repeatedly expressed reservations about the current voluntary chat control regulation, echoing the sentiment of the European Data Protection Board. The core demand is to prevent "indiscriminate scanning" and ensure a robust legal basis for data processing, thereby protecting user privacy and fundamental rights enshrined in the EU Charter.