European Commission Revives Push for Encryption Backdoors in ProtectEU Strategy
Hacker News · 2026-08-30
The European Union Commission has announced a new internal security strategy called "ProtectEU," which aims to find "technological solutions for accessing encrypted data" and create "roadmaps for lawful and effective access to data for law enforcement." Presented as a "vision and workplan" to address "growing" threats from hostile states, criminal groups, terrorists, and surging cybercrime, the strategy identifies "more effective tools for law enforcement" as a key area, implicitly targeting online encryption. Critics, including tech companies and civil rights advocates, warn that backdoors weaken security for everyone, including against the very threats the EU aims to counter. The ProtectEU plan also includes increased intelligence sharing among member states and aims to grant EUROPOL more powers for cross-border and large-scale investigations, positioning it as "a truly operational police agency."