The issue of children’s online safety has become a major concern, not just in the United States but also in other parts of the world. While legislators have been pushing for laws aimed at protecting children online, there is growing evidence to suggest that some of these laws may have unintended consequences.
One such example is the implementation of age-verification bills, which are meant to prevent identity theft but could actually lead to more cases of identity theft. Additionally, the Kids Online Safety Act, while aiming to block harmful content, could inadvertently restrict access to LGBTQ and other types of content.
In the European Union, there is a proposed law that seeks to undermine end-to-end encryption in an effort to combat child sex abuse material (CSAM). The law, known as the chat control law, suggests scanning encrypted messages, which goes against the very essence of end-to-end encryption. With end-to-end encryption, only the sender and receiver can read the messages, ensuring privacy and security.
Although the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties committee voted against mass scanning of encrypted messages, the most recent version of the chat control law includes an “upload moderation” system that would involve mass scanning of messages containing links, photos, and videos. The law acknowledges the importance of end-to-end encryption for protecting rights but argues that it should not become a safe haven for sharing or disseminating child sexual abuse material.
However, this approach is contradictory because scanning technology would compromise the very encryption it aims to protect. Digital rights activists and organizations, such as the Center for Democracy and Technology, the Internet Freedom Foundation, and Mozilla, have released statements opposing chat control. They argue that any scanning proposals inconsistent with the principle of end-to-end encryption should be rejected.
Meredith Whittaker, the President of encrypted messaging app Signal, has also voiced her opposition to chat control. She criticizes the use of terms like “upload moderation” as a rebranding of surveillance. Whittaker even stated that Signal would pull out of the EU if the bill passes, emphasizing the importance of protecting privacy and encryption.
The opposition to the chat control law is not limited to activists and organizations. Dozens of members of the European Parliament have signed an open letter against the law, warning that it could weaken cybersecurity and serve as a blueprint for authoritarian states. Patrick Breyer, a member of the European Parliament, has revealed that the EU Council will vote on this law soon.
In conclusion, the issue of online safety for children is a complex one that requires careful consideration. While it is crucial to protect children from harm, it is equally important to safeguard privacy and encryption. The proposed chat control law in the EU raises concerns about the potential erosion of privacy rights and cybersecurity. It remains to be seen how legislators will strike a balance between these competing interests in their pursuit of online safety.