The European Parliament has once again taken up a controversial bill that the crypto community and privacy advocates have dubbed "chat control." It concerns the extension of temporary rules allowing authorities to mass-scan messages in messengers for illegal content. Yesterday, MEPs approved an urgent procedure for a re-vote, scheduled for July 9.
The decision was passed by a narrow margin: 331 votes in favor versus 304 against, with 11 abstentions. To block or amend the proposal, the opposition would need an absolute majority of 361 votes — an extremely challenging task given the current balance of power.
This move raises serious concerns among cryptocurrency users and decentralization advocates. Mass surveillance of communications sets a precedent that could affect not only ordinary citizens but also participants in the crypto industry who rely on the confidentiality of correspondence. If the rules are extended, it could increase pressure on private blockchain projects and services that use encryption.
My analysis: In my view, the European Parliament is demonstrating a dangerous trend toward centralizing control over the digital space. For the crypto community, this is a signal: privacy and anonymity are not just conveniences but fundamental values that will have to be defended through decentralized tools. If "chat control" passes, we will see increased regulatory pressure on encryption, which could push the industry toward even more active development of solutions based on zk-SNARKs and other technologies that protect data from prying eyes.