Negotiations collapsed in best possible outcome: Quote from Markéta Gregorová MEP

On the collapse of inter-institutional negotiations (trilogue) on the Chat Control 1.0, Markéta Gregorová, Pirate Party and Greens/EFA Group MEP responsible for the file, comments: 

“Yesterday’s trilogue on Chat Control 1.0 ended in the best possible outcome: The Council and the Parliament failed to agree on any compromise version. Our pressure prevented negotiators from the EPP from moving away from the Parliament’s position. This is one of my greatest achievements of the entire mandate.

“It is therefore likely that the exemption from the ePrivacy Directive will not be adopted in time, with Chat Control 1.0 expiring at the start of April. Platforms will have to immediately stop the mass scanning of our online communications or the images we send to friends. The practice whereby platforms blocked people’s accounts without justification based on false reports would also come to an end.

“This system did not work, it was disproportionate and it treated innocent citizens as suspects. That is why it is a huge success that it will come to an end, and we should also thank citizens who played a major role in persuading their elected representatives.

“The fight is far from over, the pressure to adopt Chat Control 2.0, a permanent surveillance regime that could be even broader, will now increase. We will do everything to ensure that we maintain the Parliament’s position, which even under a permanent regime assumes that personal communications may only be monitored on the basis of a judicial warrant and only in cases concerning suspected individuals.”