European Parliament adopts law on scrutiny of personal declarations

The European Parliament has taken a significant step toward adopting a temporary law that would allow major technology companies to scan users' private messages, according to Zamin.uz.

The primary aim of the proposed measure is to detect and limit the spread of material depicting illegal acts against minors in online environments worldwide. However, the document has sparked serious debate among digital privacy and human rights advocates.

Currently, legal gaps force online platforms to navigate numerous obstacles when voluntarily reviewing user data. The new legislative initiative is expected to temporarily address this regulatory gap.

Lawmakers supported forwarding the proposal to the Council of the European Union for further consideration at the next stage. Nevertheless, opinions on the final version of the document remain sharply divided.

At the heart of the debate is whether communication services with end-to-end encryption should be exempt from such requirements. If the current amendments remain in place, certain messaging platforms could be relieved of the obligation to scan private messages.

This outcome is viewed as a significant victory by proponents of personal data privacy. Conversely, law enforcement agencies argue that such exceptions could create convenient opportunities for criminals.

Insufficient support was gathered to fully reject the proposal, so the document has advanced to the next stage of the legislative process. Supporters of the initiative regard protecting children in the digital space as an utmost priority, while critics warn that the system could evolve into a mechanism for mass surveillance in the future.

Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, also voiced his strong opposition to the measure. In a post on social media, he openly criticized the European Union's actions, describing such approaches as contrary to democratic principles.

According to Durov, the fight for children's safety is being used as a pretext to implement tools that violate individuals' private lives. For now, the proposed law will undergo detailed review by the Council of the European Union.

If member states approve the clause exempting encrypted communication services from this requirement, the document will proceed to the next stage. Otherwise, prolonged and complex discussions among European institutions may begin, which could significantly delay the adoption of the law.