X @Nick Szabo

Regulatory Landscape & Policy Changes - The EU Council has removed the requirement for mandatory scanning of end-to-end encrypted messaging services, representing a significant victory against mass surveillance [1] - The EU Council's proposal lays the groundwork for future mass surveillance, indicating ongoing concerns regarding privacy and security [1] - The EU Council's version of Chat Control includes voluntary scanning and vaguely worded legislation that may lead to mandatory ID checks, even for end-to-end encrypted services [3] - The EU Council will reconsider the requirement for mandatory scanning every three years, posing a recurring threat to privacy [3][5] - A new EU center is being established to focus on blocking material, raising concerns about potential censorship and the definition of "illegal" content [3][6] Technological Implications & Surveillance Concerns - The EU Council's Chat Control version introduces AI scanning of conversations, photos, and videos to detect criminal content, potentially leading to numerous false positives and privacy violations [4] - The scanning process involves American companies and could be used to scan for virtually anything, raising concerns about broader surveillance and data access [4] - The EU may require ID checks and ban anonymous use of messaging services and social media, impacting individuals in authoritarian countries, whistleblowers, and journalists [5] Industry Response & Advocacy - The industry urges the European Parliament to demand no mass surveillance without suspicion and a court order, no ID-verification requirements, and no censorship of legal content [2] - The industry views Chat Control as a proposal aimed at introducing mass surveillance, with ongoing attempts to challenge private and secure communication [7]