Denmark Drops EU Chat Control Plan later than Strong Privacy Opposition

Denmark, the current president of the European Council, has decided to remove the Chat Control plan from its legislative agenda. They that internet companies will still be able to choose whether or not to check messages on encrypted platforms. 

Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard the change to Danish media, saying that the plan will not be included in future compromise drafts. He also noted that message screening would still be voluntary once the framework ends in April 2026.​

The Chat Control regulation, which took effect in May 2022, aimed to prevent the sharing of unlawful content by requiring major messaging providers to review messages before they were encrypted.

Privacy advocates and large tech companies strongly opposed the law in its various forms, arguing that these rules would compromise the security of end-to-end and infringe upon consumers’ fundamental right to privacy.​

What Advocacy Groups and Tech Companies Have To Say

Most civil society and technology leaders have been pleased with Denmark’s decision to leave. Groups that support digital rights, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), praised the decision as a “major win for digital freedoms in the .” 

Public pressure was also said to have played a significant role in the policy change. The EFF also advised politicians to stop trying to get around encryption to spy on people and instead work on alternatives that don’t violate people’s rights.​

X’s Global Government Affairs team that the reversal was a “major defeat for mass surveillance advocates” and pledged to monitor future negotiations and oppose any attempts to introduce similar legislation. Tech companies have repeatedly warned that government-mandated scanning might put private conversations at risk of being hacked, abused, or monitored without permission.​

The Legal Situation and Future Outlook

The EU will have a legislative gap if no consensus or replacement is found before the voluntary framework ends in April 2026. Minister Hummelgaard stated that if the legislative standoff over chat management persists, law enforcement may not have the necessary tools to combat crime on encrypted platforms. 

When Ireland takes over as president of the EU Council in July 2026, the subject is likely to come up again as lawmakers throughout the bloc look at ways to protect people’s privacy and securety in digital interactions. 

​Meanwhile, continue to urge EU politicians to defend encryption standards and refrain from using intrusive monitoring methods. They emphasise that technology plays a crucial role in protecting human rights in the digital age.​

The Call to Reevaluate Surveillance Laws

Experts in security and privacy argue that the constant push for message-scanning plans reveals a lack of understanding about how encryption technology works and its limitations. Critics emphasise the need for legal systems that effectively protect private communications. 

They want governments to look for “real answers” instead of backdoor access and expansive surveillance rules.​ As backs away from regulations that require scanning, the future of encryption and privacy rights in the EU remains a contentious issue, with digital liberties at the centre of the debate.