Stop Chat Control
The EU wants to scan every private message you send - photos, chats, links - before it even leaves your phone. It is mass surveillance dressed up as safety, and it breaks the encryption that protects all of us. We say no.
Active now · as of 9 July 2026
On 9 July 2026 the European Parliament failed to stop it. Only 314 MEPs voted to reject the Council's fast-tracked extension - short of the 361 needed - so voluntary mass-scanning of private messages is reinstated and legal until 2028. The permanent, mandatory version ("Chat Control 2.0") is still being fought.
The basics
What is Chat Control?
A pair of EU proposals that would turn every messaging app into a surveillance tool - scanning your private communications on a "just in case" basis, with no suspicion and no warrant.
A temporary regime that lets platforms scan unencrypted private messages for illegal material. Reinstated on 9 July 2026 and now in force until 2028.
- • Scans unencrypted messages
- • Voluntary for platforms - for now
- • Suspicionless: everyone is scanned
A permanent law that would force detection on all platforms - and could reach end-to-end encrypted chats via client-side scanning. Deadlocked after five failed negotiation rounds.
- • Mandatory scanning by law
- • Threatens end-to-end encryption
- • Scans on your device, before you send
2026 · how we got here
The timeline
- 4 Apr
The old rules expired
The temporary voluntary-scanning regime lapsed. For a moment, blanket scanning had no legal basis.
- Jun
Even the Council's lawyers objected
The Council’s own legal service warned that voluntary scanning "still constitutes generalised scanning" - incompatible with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
- 29 Jun
Chat Control 2.0 talks collapse
The "final" trilogue broke down over suspicionless scanning. Negotiations continue under the Irish presidency.
- 7 Jul
A rushed vote
An "urgent procedure" fast-tracked the extension - passed 331 to 304, with 11 abstentions.
- 9 Jul
Parliament fails to stop it
Only 314 MEPs voted to reject - short of the 361 absolute majority needed. Mass scanning is back, legal until 2028.
Why it matters
Why we oppose it
Mass surveillance by default
Every citizen is treated as a suspect. Suspicionless scanning without a warrant is exactly what constitutions were written to prevent.
It breaks encryption
You cannot scan end-to-end encrypted messages without weakening the encryption for everyone - criminals included, and every ordinary person too.
Client-side scanning is a backdoor
Scanning on your own device, before a message is sent, turns your phone into an informant. Once built, that backdoor can be pointed at anything.
It doesn't even keep you safer
Mass false positives flood investigators, real abuse moves off-platform, and the privacy of millions is sacrificed for security theatre.
Where we stand
Privacy is the whole point
"We built BuyUKeSIM on a simple idea: you shouldn’t have to hand over your identity to get a phone number. Chat Control is the same fight, on a bigger scale."
A UK +44 number with no KYC, paid in crypto, delivered as a QR - that only means something in a world where private communication stays private. That is why this fight is ours too. We will keep this page updated as the law moves.
Do something
Take action
Two minutes to contact your MEP does more than you'd think - the last vote came down to a handful of seats.
This page reflects publicly reported developments on the EU CSA Regulation ("Chat Control") as of 9 July 2026. The legislation is evolving; we update this page as it changes. Nothing here is legal advice.