As a company committed to ensuring secure and private communications, Wire vehemently opposes the EU Commission's legislative proposal known as "Chat Control." This proposal threatens to establish an unprecedented mass-surveillance apparatus in the European Union, undermining the very foundations of privacy and data security.
Understanding Chat Control
Chat Control, despite its various euphemisms like “client-side scanning”, “upload moderation”, or “AI detection”, essentially mandates mass surveillance of private communications. The stated goal is to combat child sexual abuse material (CSAM), a commendable objective that no one disputes. However, the means proposed are neither effective nor proportionate. By implementing mass surveillance, the proposal introduces several critical issues:
- Erosion of Privacy: Once the surveillance mechanism is in place, all private communications could be subject to monitoring. This fundamentally violates the right to private and secure communication.
- Security Risks: The implementation of Chat Control would weaken data security across the EU. By introducing backdoors and the necessary infrastructure for surveillance, the proposal exposes all users to potential cyber threats.
- Impact on Professional Confidentiality: Professionals such as lawyers, journalists, and doctors rely on confidentiality to perform their duties. Chat Control would make it impossible for them to guarantee privacy to their clients and sources.
- One step forward, three steps back: Undermining the excellent work the EU has done with the DMA/DSA acts to promote privacy and interoperability in the digital market, this initiative will hurt the European Digital Market in a very profound and durable way
The Dangers of Mass Surveillance
Mass surveillance is a tool incompatible with democratic principles. It is a hallmark of totalitarian regimes, not of free societies. Furthermore, history and research have shown that mass surveillance is often ineffective. It generates vast amounts of data that are difficult to manage and analyze, often leading to missed genuine threats and violations of privacy without improving security outcomes.
Moreover, once a mass-surveillance system is established, there is a risk of scope creep. Initially intended to detect CSAM, it could easily be expanded to monitor other types of content, thus opening the door to widespread abuses.
Ineffectiveness in Protecting Children
Child protection should focus on preventing abuse before it happens. The current proposal does not address the root causes of child sexual abuse and instead focuses on detecting and removing content after the fact. This approach does little to protect children and may, in fact, harm them further by subjecting their private communications to intrusive surveillance.
Call to Action
Time is of the essence. The decision on Chat Control is imminent, and we must act now to protect our privacy and security. Here’s how you can help:
- Contact Your Government Representatives: Urge them to vote against Chat Control. Highlight the risks to privacy, data security, and professional confidentiality.
- Raise Awareness: Use social media and other platforms to inform others about the dangers of Chat Control. Share campaign materials and explanatory videos to spread the word.
- Collaborate and Mobilize: Engage with non-governmental organizations, academics, companies, and media to organize open letters, opinion pieces, and protests. Collective action can make a significant impact.
At Wire, we are committed to providing secure, private, and anonymous communication. We stand firmly against any measures that compromise these principles. Should Chat Control be implemented, we will explore all possible options, including legal action and technical solutions, to continue protecting our users’ privacy.
In conclusion, the Chat Control proposal poses a serious threat to the fundamental rights of EU citizens. It is crucial that we stand together to oppose this measure and ensure that privacy and data security remain protected in the digital age. Let’s take action now to prevent the establishment of this Orwellian surveillance system and safeguard our democratic values.
About Wire
Wire is dedicated to providing secure communication solutions that respect privacy and data protection. Our mission is to ensure that individuals and organizations can communicate freely and securely without fear of surveillance or data breaches. Join us in standing against Chat Control and advocating for a safer, more private internet.
