🇪🇺 Chat Control (2025): Still under debate, this proposal would mandate client-side scanning of ALL private communications before encryption, essentially installing government surveillance on every device. Over 500 scientists have called it "technically infeasible" and a "danger to democracy."
Discussion
🇦🇺 TOLA (2018): The world's first law forcing companies to build decryption capabilities. One analysis estimated adverse economic impact of AU$1 billion due to lost trust in Australian tech.
🇺🇸 EARN IT ACT strips legal protection from encrypted platforms and forces messages scanning. Repeatedly reintroduced despite massive opposition.
THE PLAYBOOK IS CLEAR:
1Introduce legislation as "child protection"
2Ignore technical experts who say it's dangerous and unworkable
3Use emotional arguments to bypass rational debate
4Vote during crisis moments or procedural windows
5 Implement gradually to avoid mass backlash
Encryption isn't a luxury. It's the last line of defense between your private life and total surveillance. Once it's gone, we won't get it back.
Europe can still choose differently.
But the window is closing.