Denmark has officially withdrawn its proposal that would have required messaging apps like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal to allow authorities to scan messages before they’re encrypted. According to Cointelegraph, this proposal—known as the Chat Control law—was first introduced in May 2022 to combat illegal online content but quickly drew criticism for potentially undermining user privacy and encryption security.

The Danish Ministry of Justice confirmed that the plan will not be part of the European Council’s latest compromise draft. Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard explained that the screening of encrypted messages will remain voluntary for tech companies. This voluntary framework is currently valid until April 2026, giving EU leaders time to design a new approach before it expires.

The move marks a major win for privacy advocates and tech companies alike. X’s Global Government Affairs team called Denmark’s decision a major blow to supporters of mass surveillance, promising to keep opposing any policies that threaten digital privacy. Patrick Hansen, Circle’s Director of EU Strategy and Policy, celebrated the withdrawal as a “big win for digital freedoms across Europe.” The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) also praised the reversal, crediting strong public opposition for influencing EU lawmakers to step back from the controversial measure.

In a blog post, EFF’s Thorin Klosowski urged lawmakers to stop trying to bypass encryption in the name of public safety. He stressed the importance of solutions that both protect security and uphold human rights. Klosowski added that misunderstanding encryption only leads to flawed policies, and any form of message scanning poses a serious risk to privacy. He called on future EU presidencies to drop such proposals entirely and focus instead on privacy-friendly innovations.

Denmark’s decision sets the tone for upcoming discussions, as Ireland prepares to take over the EU Council presidency in July 2026. Until then, the conversation around privacy, safety, and digital rights is sure to continue