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Fact check: After the EU Caht Control gets passed, will it scan already existing messeges? and Deleted accounts from discord?

Checked on August 18, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, the EU Chat Control proposal's scope regarding existing messages and deleted Discord accounts remains unclear and unspecified in the current documentation. The analyses reveal that while the proposal would mandate pre-encryption message scanning on platforms like WhatsApp and Signal [1], none of the sources explicitly address whether it would scan already existing messages or deleted Discord accounts specifically.

The proposal aims to break encryption and enable real-time content scanning and moderation [2], which could potentially create the technical capability to access existing messages. However, the analyses suggest this would primarily focus on ongoing communications rather than retroactive scanning of historical data.

The regulation is described as enabling "mass surveillance" and representing the "end of privacy of digital correspondence" [1], with significant concerns raised about its broad surveillance implications [3] [4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial pieces of context that emerge from the analyses:

  • Technical implementation details: The analyses don't provide specific information about how the scanning would work technically, particularly regarding data retention and retroactive access [2] [1] [5]
  • Platform-specific implications: While Discord is mentioned in the question, the analyses focus primarily on WhatsApp and Signal as examples, leaving Discord's specific treatment unclear [1]
  • Timeline and current status: The analyses suggest the proposal is gaining momentum with potential implementation by October 2025 [4], but don't clarify the current legislative status
  • Opposition and debate: There are significant concerns about abuse of power and erosion of privacy rights, with some viewing it as "a solution in search of a problem" [4]

Beneficiaries of different narratives:

  • Law enforcement agencies and government surveillance apparatus would benefit from expanded scanning capabilities
  • Privacy advocates and civil liberties organizations benefit from highlighting the surveillance risks
  • Tech companies may benefit from either compliance business or opposition positioning depending on their stance

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains several assumptions that may not be accurate:

  • Assumption of retroactive scanning: The question assumes the proposal would scan "already existing messages," but the analyses suggest the focus is on pre-encryption scanning of new messages rather than historical data access [1]
  • Specific platform focus: By asking specifically about Discord and deleted accounts, the question may be overly narrow given that the analyses discuss broader implications across multiple messaging platforms [1]
  • Certainty of passage: The question asks "After the EU Chat Control gets passed," implying inevitable passage, while the analyses suggest this remains a proposal under debate with significant opposition [3] [4]

The question appears to reflect legitimate privacy concerns but may be based on incomplete understanding of the proposal's actual technical scope and current legislative status.

Want to dive deeper?
What is the EU Chat Control law and how does it affect messaging apps?
Will the EU Chat Control law require Discord to retain deleted account data?
How will the EU Chat Control law balance user privacy with law enforcement needs?
What are the penalties for non-compliance with the EU Chat Control law for companies like Discord?
How will the EU Chat Control law impact end-to-end encryption in messaging apps?