An open letter has been issued by scientists and researchers across Europe, expressing deep concerns over the EU’s latest proposal for child sexual abuse regulation, which mandates client-side scanning on encrypted messaging platforms to detect Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
The letter highlights significant technical flaws and potential privacy violations in the proposal, arguing that it threatens end-to-end encryption and could lead to mass surveillance without effectively addressing child abuse. Despite some concessions in the August 2024 draft, the letter argues that the regulation remains disproportionate, ineffective, and poses serious risks to individual privacy and security.
Academics are urged to join this initiative and sign the letter to protect digital privacy and uphold secure communication channels. To read the full letter and lend your support, visit the open letter link.
The CEPIS Legal and Security Issues expert group has been opposing this legislation proposal from the beginning. For more information, see here.
