Meredith Whittaker, President of Signal, has vehemently criticized the European Union's updated Chat Control law, viewing it as a significant threat to encryption. Initially proposed in 2022 to mandate messaging apps to integrate backdoors into end-to-end encrypted messages, the revised draft now proposes "upload moderation" as an alternative method to combat digital child exploitation materials.

Whittaker argues that the adoption of "upload moderation" is a strategic move aimed at undermining the integrity of encryption. She asserts that such measures pose a risk of exposing private communications to potential breaches by hackers and state entities, despite claims that they do not weaken encryption. Highlighting the pivotal role of end-to-end encryption in safeguarding privacy amidst escalating surveillance by governments and corporations, Whittaker emphasizes the need to preserve these protections.

Under the new proposal, telecommunications service providers would implement "upload moderation" techniques to monitor and prevent the dissemination of child exploitation content. This could involve scanning private chats against databases maintained by authorities or employing AI algorithms to identify inappropriate material.

However, Whittaker contends that these measures represent attempts to circumvent encryption expertise and could compromise the security of encrypted communications. Whether through surveillance measures before encryption or other methodologies, she warns that any compromise in the encryption process creates vulnerabilities that malicious actors could exploit.

Signal, renowned for its robust use of elliptic curve cryptography to ensure end-to-end encryption across messaging, voice, and video services, has previously indicated concerns about regulatory efforts that might facilitate backdoor access to encrypted services in markets like the UK. The platform has also embraced cryptocurrencies, following a similar path as Telegram, and has been accepting donations in Bitcoin, Ether, and other digital currencies since March 2021 to support the Signal Technology Foundation's initiatives.