EU Chat Control Proposal August 2025: Will EU Scan Your DMs?
Is the EU Chat Control Law Implemented Yet?
No—the EU’s “Chat Control” law is NOT in force as of August 2025. Your private messages on WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and other platforms are still private. Despite all the headlines and heated debate, the law has NOT been passed, and there is no EU-wide scanning of messages happening right now.
The EU “Chat Control” proposal is still under negotiation. It needs more support from key EU countries—especially Germany—before it can become law.
What Needs to Happen for Chat Control to Pass?
- Key vote pending: The EU Council must vote—likely October 2025. At least 15 of 27 member states (representing at least 65% of EU population) must support it.
- Germany is the swing vote: As of August, Germany has NOT committed. Their “yes” or “no” could decide the outcome.
- EU Parliament approval: If the Council passes the law, it goes back to Parliament for a final check and possible amendments.
- National parliaments: Some countries may require a domestic vote or review.
For a detailed breakdown of what the EU Chat Control law actually proposes—and why it’s so controversial—read our explainer:
Chat Control: Why the EU Wants to Scan Everyone’s Messages
Should You Be Worried Right Now?
Not yet. The law is not in force, and there are still big hurdles: political
opposition, legal challenges, public protests, and tech firm resistance.
Even if Chat Control were approved in late 2025, implementation would take time.
Messaging platforms would have until at least 2027 to build and roll out any required scanning
technology.
List of EU Countries Supporting or Opposing the Chat Control Law (August 2025)
Snapshot as of . Council positions can shift until the formal vote. Labels “reported/leaning” reflect recent media or presidency briefings; others say “no clear public position” when we don’t have a reliable, on-record stance.
| Country | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Oppose (reported) | Long-time critic of scanning; no recent reversal on record. |
| Belgium | No clear public position | Government review reported. |
| Bulgaria | No clear public position | Awaiting public indication. |
| Croatia | No clear public position | Awaiting public indication. |
| Cyprus | No clear public position | Awaiting public indication. |
| Czechia | Sceptical / review | Reservations noted in earlier Council rounds. |
| Denmark | Support | Council Presidency; prioritised the file. |
| Estonia | Sceptical / review | Raised concerns in 2024–25 discussions. |
| Finland | Sceptical / review | Concerns over encryption and scanning. |
| France | Leaning support (reported) | Coverage says it “could essentially support” the draft. |
| Germany | Undecided / pivotal | Widely seen as the swing vote. |
| Greece | No clear public position | Listed as under review in round-ups. |
| Hungary | Support (reported) | Named among backers of the Danish text. |
| Ireland | No clear public position | Awaiting public indication. |
| Italy | Support (reported) | Named among backers of the Danish text. |
| Latvia | No clear public position | Awaiting public indication. |
| Lithuania | No clear public position | Awaiting public indication. |
| Luxembourg | Oppose / sceptical (reported) | Previously opposed; no clear new stance published. |
| Malta | No clear public position | Awaiting public indication. |
| Netherlands | Oppose (reported) | Cited in blocking group in prior rounds. |
| Poland | Oppose (reported) | Previously part of a blocking minority. |
| Portugal | No clear public position | Awaiting public indication. |
| Romania | No clear public position | Listed as under review in round-ups. |
| Slovakia | No clear public position | Awaiting public indication. |
| Slovenia | Sceptical / review | Reservations reported in 2024–25. |
| Spain | Support (reported) | Named among backers of the Danish text. |
| Sweden | Oppose (reported) | Opposition cited in recent coverage. |
How we label countries
- Support / Oppose (reported): consistent, recent reporting on the latest draft.
- Leaning: public statements indicating likely direction.
- Sceptical / review: raised concerns or signalled abstention; no firm “yes/no”.
- No clear public position: nothing reliable on record for the latest draft.
- Is the EU scanning my private chats now? No. There is no mass scanning in place as of August 2025.
- Can the law still pass? Yes—if it gets enough country support. But major obstacles remain.
- What if I use encrypted apps? All apps would be affected if the law passes, but for now, end-to-end encryption still works as promised.
- Can it be stopped? Yes! Public protest, pressure on undecided countries (especially Germany), and legal action can still prevent it.
The Fix-EU Bottom Line
Don’t panic—yet. As of now, your messages are private, and the law is stuck in EU politics. For Chat Control to become real, it needs a lot more support and will face fierce resistance from privacy defenders, tech firms, and citizens.
If you care about privacy, stay informed, keep pressure on your politicians, and don’t buy the hype. The fight isn’t over, and your voice still matters.