In the vote, a majority emerged against the planned extension of the current solution. This sent a clear signal: measures aimed at protecting children must not lead to disproportionate interference in private communication.
The interim regulation in force since 2021 allows companies to voluntarily and automatically screen digital communications for child sexual abuse material. This mechanism is often referred to as “voluntary chat control.” Even though the intrusion into privacy is significantly more limited than under the European Commission’s more far-reaching plans for mandatory chat control, because a high level of technical reliability has been demonstrated, we still have fundamental concerns.
The AfD is clearly committed to resolute action against child abuse. At the same time, it is crucial that measures against serious crimes do not lead to a gradual erosion of fundamental freedoms. End-to-end encryption in particular is a key pillar of IT security, data protection, and the safeguarding of confidential communication, for citizens as well as for companies, journalists, and public authorities.
During the vote, no majority could be secured for amendments that would have guaranteed clear and legally sound protection for end-to-end encryption. From our perspective, an essential precondition for a balanced solution therefore remained unmet.
Mary Khan, Member of the European Parliament for the ESN Group and the AfD delegation in the European Parliament, stated:
“Child protection and the protection of privacy are not contradictory. We need effective measures against abuse, but with clear and binding guarantees for digital fundamental rights.”
At the same time, it must be assumed that the European Commission’s more far-reaching proposal for mandatory and significantly stricter chat control will return to the political agenda. The AfD will engage in this debate and work on solutions that ensure effective child protection without placing confidential communication under general suspicion.
Our goal remains a balanced and measured policy: maximum protection for children with minimally invasive interference in citizens’ fundamental rights.
