The European Commission is proposing a regulation that would turn popular digital communication apps, such as WhatsApp and Instagram, into tools for mass surveillance. This means that the conversations, photos, and videos of all EU citizens could be automatically scanned for criminal offenses, even if they are not suspected of any crime. However, this proposal has faced heavy criticism from academics, privacy regulators, and legal experts for violating privacy rights and being fundamentally flawed. The use of artificial intelligence to detect criminal activity is also questionable, as it could lead to innocent citizens being falsely identified as suspects. Additionally, the proposal poses a threat to privacy, freedom of communication, and the presumption of innocence. The European Commissioner for Home Affairs has faced resistance in the Council of the European Union, with insufficient support for her proposal. In an attempt to sway public opinion, the Commission launched a paid advertising campaign on social media platform X, targeting countries that did not want to vote for the proposal. The campaign used shocking images and emotional manipulation to suggest that opponents of the legislation do not want to protect children. However, these tactics have been criticized for being manipulative and misleading. The campaign also violated X’s advertising policy and data protection regulations by using micro-targeting based on political and religious beliefs. In order
https://dannymekic.com/202310/undermining-democracy-the-european-commissions-controversial-push-for-digital-surveillance