Bratislava – Matúš Šutaj Eštok, Minister of the Interior of the Slovak Republic, opposes the blanket surveillance measures proposed in the EU’s Chat Control legislation aimed at safeguarding children from online exploitation. He believes that the protection of children must not compromise individual privacy rights. This position was conveyed in a social media video, as reported by TASR.
“We need effective tools to fight against child abuse, but they should not establish a framework that could lead to misuse of personal data. Slovakia must advocate for a balanced and sensible approach in Brussels. Our aim should be to find a solution that effectively safeguards children while ensuring robust protections for citizens’ privacy,” stated Matúš Šutaj Eštok.
The minister noted that while he initially backed the proposal, he recognized emerging risks as the draft evolved, particularly concerning potential encroachments on the encryption of private communications.
He affirmed that the Ministry of the Interior is committed to participating in discussions to craft child protection legislation that is both effective and secure. “However, we will only endorse measures that align with the interests of Slovakia and its citizens; we certainly do not view blanket surveillance as acceptable,” he concluded. (September 3)
“Our goal must be a solution that truly protects children while also providing clear and binding guarantees for the privacy of our citizens.” Matúš Šutaj Eštok.
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