Child Protection Group Warns Against ‘Chat Control’

Days before the EU Council is set to decide on the so-called “chat control” proposal, the German Child Protection Association (Deutscher Kinderschutzbund) has publicly opposed the plan. The association argues against introducing automated scanning of private messages to detect sexualized violence content, calling it an unwarranted and broad surveillance measure.

Sabine Andresen, president of the association, emphasized the importance of protecting children while also safeguarding privacy and civil liberties. The proposed regulation aims to detect depictions of sexual violence in digital communications before they are shared, but critics say the approach risks mass surveillance of private conversations.

Discussion questions:

• Can child protection be effectively balanced with privacy rights?
• Are targeted investigations and human-led interventions preferable to automated, bulk scanning?

Sources: original report on iPhone-Ticker and statements by the Deutscher Kinderschutzbund.