Chat Control in 2026: What Happens to Encrypted Messages
Few pieces of EU legislation have been declared dead as often as Chat Control, and few have returned as reliably. In July 2026 a scanning law that more MEPs voted against than for came back into force. On 29 September 2026 negotiators meet again to decide the shape of the permanent regulation. The outcome affects ministries, armed forces, defence suppliers and energy operators, because it determines how much control they keep over who can read their communications.