The European Parliament has failed to stop platforms from scanning private messages for child abuse material until 2028 after a motion to reject the rules fell short of the 361 votes required.

The EU’s Chat Control message-scanning regime will continue despite the fact that most lawmakers who cast a ballot want the rules gone.

Former MEP and Pirate Party privacy campaigner Patrick Breyer, revealed that during the recent European Parliament vote, 314 members voted against the EU’s chat control rules while 276 backed it.

There were 17 abstentions, and because rejecting the measure needed an absolute majority of the full chamber rather than a simple majority of those present, the 314 opposing votes were not enough.

A separate amendment to limit message scanning to suspects flagged by courts also drew more support than opposition, 322 to 255, and similarly the majority lost.

Due to the outcome of the vote, “Chat Control 1.0,” which was temporarily paused after EU institutions could not agree to extend it, will now be revived[...]