EU Council blocks or indefinitely postpones the Chat Control regulation by July 31, 2026
The EU Parliament passed the Chat Control regulation on July 9, 2026 via fast-track procedure (414 vs. 224 votes). However, entry into force requires a qualified majority in the EU Council. Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Finland have blocked the measure for years due to data protection and encryption concerns. All previous Chat Control drafts (2022, 2023, 2024) failed in the Council โ the pattern continues.