Yes, even encrypted ones like Signal, WhatsApp and Telegram. No, you can’t opt out.

This surveillance trend extends beyond Europe: 🇨🇭 Switzerland is advancing metadata retention requirements, the 🇬🇧 UK is implementing comprehensive age verification systems and now the 🇪🇺 EU proposes to scan every private message. Each initiative is positioned as child protection policy, but the implications reach far beyond their stated goals.

The proposal builds on surveillance techniques already deployed by major tech companies. Meta analyzes all Facebook Messenger conversations and unencrypted WhatsApp data (profile photos, group descriptions). Apple announced similar scanning for iCloud content in 2021, though they later suspended the program.

This represents a fundamental shift away from targeted surveillance based on court orders or reasonable suspicion. Unlike airport security (where you consent to specific, limited searches for immediate safety), ChatControl would automatically scan all private communications of all citizens, all the time.

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0 sats \ 4 replies \ @xz 6h

You can kinda opt out of using a phone.

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @Scoresby OP 6h

I don't think that really counts.

A similar analogy might be: you can opt out of controls on free speech by just not saying anything.

Or were you referring to using desktop clients instead of phone apps?

102 sats \ 2 replies \ @xz 6h

You're quite right in your estimation of how ill-thought through my statement was. That's why I said 'kinda'.

The way I see it, it's not really easy for (most) people to live without a phone. But I guess I was thinking, if things got so bad, and I felt my private conversations with my lady were being stored, analyzed and flagged, I might have the mind to throw my phone out of the window. Like the sentiment of 'kill your television' to stop being brain washed by it. Or, if you wanted to escape the constraints of punctuality, we have the option to smash all our clocks.

Obviously, the limitation is largely affected by whether or not this happens on-masse.

But I think there's still substance there, if collectively we get to the point.

Free speech/freedom of speech is interesting in that you could impose whatever controls you want, but it's likely ineffective in that I could still say what I want in my head, and say nothing because you are the gestapo. Then when I get back home, I say it to everyone else.

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @Scoresby OP 6h

the limitation is largely affected by whether or not this happens on-masse.

I managed to avoid getting a cell phone until 2008. But by that point it was very difficult to coordinate with people/friends/family. I can only imagine how it would be now. You are 100% right that doing it alone would just cut yourself off from society.

But also phones are now pretty necessary for administrative aspects of life. I don't think it's viable to opt out via not using a phone.

102 sats \ 0 replies \ @xz 4h

It's weird right though, how we can be having a conversation on this topic which clearly is important as many people who feel that the level of technological subterfuge and corresponding snoopy-ness that we need to consider is quite insane.

Imagine a nation, I don't know, Iceland, population of 5m? just not putting up with ChatControl and going to back to their perfectly normal lives without phones.

Maybe all the people who held off getting a mobile for as long as they could are the same people opposing this?

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @jakoyoh629 7h