Recently, negotiations stalled in the EU over the permanent framework for the contested “Chat Control” law. While lawmakers and ministers keep disagreeing over the final version of the law, a temporary iteration of it has allowed tech companies to scan the contents of EU citizens private messages since 2021, which they continue to do.

The temporary law expired this spring but an extension was agreed on in July. Now companies such as Google, Microsoft, Snap and Meta are actively scanning EU citizens private messages for images and videos, with the aim of finding and combating child sexual abuse.

Supporters believe the law is needed to protect children and bring perpetrators to justice. But far from everyone thinks the end justifies the means. Critics of the law, who have dubbed it “Chat Control”, claim it is establishing a system of mass surveillance in Europe.

While the EU law does not state which third party companies or organisations the tech companies may share the data with, U.S. law requires them to send suspected tips, even those collected in the EU, to the American organisation National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, NCMEC.

NCMEC, in turn, works closely with Palantir.

Let's just get real real: Everyone's messages are being scanned, children will only be protected if someone is deemed subversive, but there will be many persecuted as enemies of the state. This is globally, btw.

Well that's not good.