In its efforts to rein in Big Tech and tackle child abuse, the EU is moving toward a new era of oversight to control internet content. The objectives are laudable, but the mechanisms being put in place will force all providers of chat, messaging, and email services to deploy mass surveillance technology. As Dr. Patrick Breyer, Member of the European Parliament, has cautioned, the result will be “Mass surveillance by means of fully automated real-time messaging and chat control and the end of secrecy of digital correspondence.”
The Privacy and Access Council of Canada joins with business entities, industry associations, IT professionals, privacy, data protection, cyber security, and other experts operating across Europe and globally to express concern that these well-intentioned laws will require all personal and corporate communications to be examined automatically, and analyzed for suspicious content — even if the content is encrypted or contains personal, medical, confidential, or privileged information.
PACC is particularly concerned that laws to control internet content will undermine the diligent efforts of PACC members and other data protection professionals. Privacy laws generally require that organizations prevent unauthorized access to personal information, but it will be impossible for organizations and their privacy officers to meet that obligation when other laws compel platforms to examine all communications to find content deemed illicit.
The Canadian government also introduced legislation to control internet content that, like the EU laws, will hamstring PACC members across Canada and beyond, and undermine their ability to meet their professional obligations. That is why PACC has endorsed the Open Letter to EU Commissioners to express concern about the legislation and its far-reaching impacts.
For additional information about the legislation and the Open Letter, visit https://chatcontrolv2.eu
