As a result of the interest shown in such a sensitive and complex topic as legislative proposal COM (2022) 209 (“Chat Control”), I would like to clarify, from the outset, a misunderstanding: although children’s safety online is an absolute priority of my mandate, the inclusion of my name on platforms such as fightchatcontrol.eu as a supporter of intrusive measures does not reflect my position.
As a criminal defense lawyer, I consider privacy to be a fundamental right that must not be sacrificed, and the fight against abuse of minors must not turn into generalized surveillance of law-abiding citizens. Any restriction of people’s rights must be strictly exceptional and applied only in specific, clearly defined situations.
My position in the European Parliament has always been one of balance, grounded in legal rigor. I have actively supported the need for effective mechanisms to combat child sexual abuse material (CSAM), but I have consistently rejected technical solutions that could undermine global cybersecurity. For this reason, I submitted specific amendments to the regulation extending the current rules (2021/1232), explicitly requesting that end-to-end encryption remain intact, as it is the only real guarantee of the confidentiality of our communications. In addition, through amendments submitted in other reports, I called for the withdrawal of the “Chat Control” legislative proposal in favor of an alternative solution that is both effective in combating child sexual abuse material and proportionate with regard to respecting the fundamental right to privacy.
In conclusion, I will continue to advocate for legislation that protects victims without creating technical “backdoors” that could be exploited by malicious actors. Security and freedom are not a zero-sum game; we can have safe platforms for children without dismantling the pillars of digital democracy. I will closely monitor the progress of the trilogue negotiations to ensure that the fundamental rights of Romanians are respected in accordance with European data protection standards.