In the online world, privacy has changed dramatically and is constantly under attack. Meta, the company behind Facebook that has been accused of spying on its users' unencrypted messages, is at the center of this controversy. The debate is coming to a head as an EU-wide law is in the pipeline that would even require monitoring of encrypted messages. Against this background, the Society for Freedom Rights (GFF) has filed a lawsuit against Meta, which concerns private messages and the right to informational self-determination.
Surveillance without reasons: The GFF’s complaint is not only directed against Meta…
...but also against a hotly debated network policy project: the so-called “chat control”. The EU Commission's proposal to screen user content not only in unencrypted form but also in encrypted messages would significantly expand the practice, which has already been classified as questionable.
“Few people are aware that their communications via Messenger can already be monitored without them having given any reason to do so. We quickly share our most intimate thoughts, especially via the chat function of social networks. You have to be safe from the eyes of others.”
Jürgen Bering – process coordinator and lawyer
The consequences of reading along
One of the GFF's biggest concerns is that surveillance no longer makes private communications secure and confidential. This is particularly relevant for those affected by sexual violence who see social media as a safe place to share their experiences. The idea that private messages could be constantly monitored is daunting.
Another problem is the unreliability of automated content controls. They could lead to innocent people being targeted by the authorities. Even a human review could stop criminal investigations, but it could not reverse the invasion of privacy that has already occurred.
The role of professional secrecy holders
The proposed regulation would also affect professional secrecy holders such as lawyers. They could be forced to disclose confidential communications with their clients. This would mean that client confidentiality would be abolished in many areas, which the lawyers David Albrecht and Lisa Engelbrecht, who represent the complainant, describe as “unacceptable in a constitutional state”.
Conclusion
The discussion about the planned EU regulation and the GFF's lawsuit against Meta show that protecting privacy in the digital world is more important than ever. The EU must strike a careful balance between protecting security and protecting privacy. The decision that is made will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the future of digital communications and online freedoms.
The GFF lawsuit could be just the beginning. The decisive factor will be how the EU Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers position themselves on the Commission's proposal. The outcome of this lawsuit will undoubtedly determine the pace and direction of privacy in the online world.
Only time will tell whether the digital landscape will be one in which the right to privacy is upheld or one in which the right to privacy is sacrificed for security. The battle for control of our digital footprints is well underway, and the outcome could shape the face of the digital world for years to come.
Source: Society for Civil Rights
Also read: The war on social media: Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and Co.
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Notes:
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