The European Parliament says tech companies can check private messages. They want to find and stop child abuse.

歐洲議會表示科技公司可以檢查私人訊息，旨在發現並阻止虐待兒童的行為。

Big companies like Google and Meta can now look for bad photos of children. They do this to keep children safe. However, they cannot read messages on apps like Signal or WhatsApp because those apps are very secret.

像 Google 和 Meta 這樣的大公司現在可以搜尋兒童的不良相片。他們這樣做是為了保障兒童安全。然而，他們無法讀取 Signal 或 WhatsApp 等應用程式的訊息，因為這些應用程式具有高度保密性。

Some leaders wanted this law quickly. They used a fast process to pass the rule. Many people voted against it, but not enough people voted 'no' to stop the law.

部分領導者希望迅速通過這項法律，因此採取了快速程序來通過該規定。儘管許多人投下反對票，但反對人數不足以阻止該法案通過。

Other people are angry. They say this is bad for privacy. They think the government is watching too many people. This rule stays until 2028.

其他人則感到憤怒。他們認為這對隱私不利，覺得政府監視了太多人。此規定將維持至 2028 年。

The law is now active. The European Council will look at it one last time.

該法律現已生效。歐洲理事會將進行最後一次審視。

The European Parliament has approved a temporary legal extension that allows technology companies to scan private messages for material related to the sexual abuse of children.

歐洲議會已批准一項臨時法律延期，允許科技公司掃描私人訊息，以搜查與兒童性虐待相關的內容。

This legal measure brings back a temporary exception to the ePrivacy Directive that had ended in April. Consequently, electronic communication providers—such as Meta, Google, and Microsoft—are now permitted to voluntarily identify and report cases of online child abuse. However, it is important to note that end-to-end encrypted messages are excluded from this process, which means the security of platforms like Signal and WhatsApp remains protected.

這項法律措施恢復了四月份結束的《電子隱私指令》臨時豁免項。因此，電子通訊提供商——例如 Meta、Google 和 Microsoft——現在獲准自願識別並舉報網路兒童虐待個案。然而，值得注意的是，端對端加密訊息不在此過程之內，這意味著 Signal 和 WhatsApp 等平台的安全性仍受到保障。

The adoption of this measure was marked by significant disagreement. The European People's Party (EPP) emphasized that this framework is necessary to protect minors from vulnerability. To speed up the process before the summer break, the EPP used an 'urgent procedure.' This method bypassed the usual committee discussions and required a majority of 361 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to vote against it for the regulation to be rejected. Although many lawmakers opposed the measure, they did not reach the required number of votes to stop it.

此項措施的通過伴隨著顯著的分歧。歐洲人民黨 (EPP) 強調，該框架對於保護未成年人免於脆弱處境至關重要。為了在暑假前加速流程，EPP 使用了「緊急程序」。此方法繞過了通常的委員會討論，且需要 361 名歐洲議會議員 (MEP) 投票反對，該法規才會被否決。儘管許多立法者反對該措施，但他們未能達到阻止其通過所需的票數。

Critics of the legislation argue that this move damages digital privacy. For instance, representatives from European Digital Rights and former MEP Patrick Breyer asserted that voluntary scanning is a form of mass surveillance and violates the right to private communication. This authorization will remain in place until 2028, or until a permanent law is finalized, a process that has been developing since early 2026.

該立法的批評者認為此舉損害了數位隱私。例如，歐洲數位權利組織的代表與前歐洲議會議員 Patrick Breyer 主張，自願掃描是一種大規模監控，且違反了私人通訊權。此授權將維持至 2028 年，或直到正式法律敲定為止，而該法律程序自 2026 年初開始發展。

The temporary permission to scan messages is now active, while the European Parliament and the European Council conduct a final review.

掃描訊息的臨時權限目前已生效，而歐洲議會與歐洲理事會正進行最後審查。

The European Parliament has approved a temporary extension of a legal derogation permitting technology firms to scan private communications for child sexual abuse material.

歐洲議會已通過暫時延長一項法律豁免，允許科技公司掃描私人通訊以偵測兒童色情內容。

The legislative action reinstates a temporary exemption from the ePrivacy Directive that had lapsed in April. This measure authorizes electronic communications providers—specifically including entities such as Meta, Google, and Microsoft—to voluntarily identify and report instances of online child solicitation and abuse material. Notably, the adopted amendments explicitly exclude end-to-end encrypted communications from this scope, thereby preserving the technical integrity of platforms such as Signal and WhatsApp.

此次立法行動恢復了四月失效的《電子隱私指令》（ePrivacy Directive）暫時豁免。此措施授權電子通訊供應商——特別包括 Meta、Google 和 Microsoft 等實體——自願識別並舉報網路誘拐兒童及色情內容的案例。值得注意的是，通過的修正案明確將端對端加密通訊排除在範圍之外，從而維護了如 Signal 和 WhatsApp 等平台的技術完整性。

Institutional friction characterized the adoption process. The European People's Party (EPP) advocated for the measure on the grounds that the absence of such legal frameworks would leave minors vulnerable. To expedite the process prior to the summer recess, the EPP utilized an 'urgent procedure.' This procedural mechanism bypassed preliminary committee deliberations and established a threshold where the regulation would be adopted unless an absolute majority of 361 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted against it. Although a plurality of lawmakers opposed the measure, the requisite majority for rejection was not attained, falling short by 47 votes.

採納過程中存在制度性的摩擦。歐洲人民黨（EPP）支持該措施，理由是若缺乏此類法律框架，未成年人將處於易受傷害的狀態。為了在夏季休會前加快進度，EPP 採取了「緊急程序」。此程序機制繞過了初步委員會的審議，並設定了一個門檻，除非有 361 名歐洲議會議員（MEPs）達成絕對多數投票反對，否則該條例將被採納。儘管有許多立法者反對該措施，但未能達到否決所需的絕對多數票，短缺了 47 票。

Opposition to the legislation is centered on the perceived erosion of digital privacy. Representatives from European Digital Rights and former MEP Patrick Breyer have characterized the measure as a form of mass surveillance, asserting that the voluntary scanning of private correspondence constitutes an infringement on the right to confidential communication. The current authorization remains effective until 2028, or until the ratification of a permanent legislative framework, the development of which has been ongoing since the Greek Cypriot Administration's presidency of the EU Council in early 2026.

對該立法的反對集中在對數位隱私侵蝕的擔憂。歐洲數位權利組織（European Digital Rights）的代表與前議員 Patrick Breyer 將此措施定性為一種大規模監控，主張自願掃描私人書信構成了對通訊機密權的侵犯。目前的授權有效期至 2028 年，或直到永久立法框架通過批准為止，該框架自 2026 年初塞浦路斯管理當局主持歐盟理事會以來一直在擬定中。

The temporary authorization for message scanning is now active, pending final review or conciliation between the European Parliament and the European Council.

訊息掃描的暫時授權現已生效，正等待最終審查或歐洲議會與歐洲理事會之間的協商。