The German government has reiterated its opposition to European Union legislation that would allow the mass scanning of devices to detect child sexual abuse material before encryption is applied. The Minister of Justice, Stefanie Hubig, along with other members of the CDU party, emphasized that this practice is unacceptable in a rule of law. “The mass scanning of private messages must be a taboo in a constitutional state,” Hubig stated in a statement published on Twitter.
A controversial law that would not do good for anyone
The proposal, which will be put to a vote on October 14, has generated controversy in the tech field and among privacy advocates. Hubig has emphasized that Germany will not support such measures in the European context. His statement comes amid a climate of concern following alerts from technology experts and activists warning that the country was reconsidering its position. Jens Spahn, another member of the CDU, compared this measure to opening all letters in search of illegal content, highlighting that a similar action cannot be allowed.
Meredith Whittaker, CEO of Signal, warned that her company could withdraw from Europe if the proposal for mass scanning is approved. She argued that this process would undermine the purpose of encryption and create an unsustainable scenario for digital privacy. According to Whittaker, allowing pre-encryption scanning goes against the very principles that underpin digital security.
Despite Germany’s recent reaffirmation against mass scanning, the debate over encryption resonates throughout Europe and the United States, where for decades ways to limit it have been sought. Governments argue that encryption without access for law enforcement complicates the investigation of serious crimes such as child abuse and terrorism. However, privacy advocates maintain that strong encryption also protects citizens from government retaliation.
