[CHAT CONTROL]

“The hypocrisy of the leftists cannot be hidden. The European Parliament member and leader of the Svoboda list, Irena Joveva, recently voted in Brussels against the extension of the measure to fight child sexual abuse online, while at the same time publicly advocating for children’s rights in Gaza. She herself “warns” about the rise of “right-wing populism”, while perversely “unnoticeably” voting for sexual predators, but in confrontations she presents herself as a fighter for human rights. Is the perverted LGBT agenda and the sexualization of children so important to the leftists that they would even allow child abuse and pedophilia?”

You read a part of an article by some “media”. You know, the first one in the service of “truth”. It was towards the end of May 2024. A good two weeks before the European elections. They never had any real arguments to slander, so they just made them up. Or manipulated them. It was easier to hit below the belt, saying “Joveva, a politician and mother, supports child sexual abuse”.

And today? Today, they suddenly understand that a real fight against pedophilia is possible without spying on absolutely everyone. Today, of course, they also suddenly do not mention that I was the only one from Slovenia who voted against it at the time. It was about relaxing the rules directly related to the CSAM regulation, which is known as “chat control” today.

At that time, I was even asked about it on our national television. I came to a youth event on the future of the EU, and I was asked if I had really voted against the fight against child sexual abuse. I admit that I was outraged at the time. Outraged that a certain propaganda machine – as it has so many times before – had succeeded again.

And today? Today, I am so very happy that I can share with you this very statement of mine from back then. Because today, it is just one more proof that I am not one of those people who decide as they see fit at the moment. That I do not say – or do – something just because it is popular at that moment.

And today …. when I receive dozens of emails a day from rightly concerned people, what do I think about the “chat control” legislation, I think to myself… good morning. Orwell would be proud.

I don’t. Can you imagine someone from Whatsapp, a third party, reading your messages, looking at your photos and recordings – just in case?

Can you imagine? A photo of your child in a swimsuit that you send to your grandmother ends up in some global “control archive”. Or an intimate message to your partner. And then some Facebook employee can see it. Or, worse, it ends up in the hands of someone you don’t even want to know. Or someone who then uses it. For revenge, for pleasure, for… whatever. This is not security, this is a recipe for disaster. This is the end of encryption, the end of privacy and the largest archive of intimate content on the Internet. Something that criminals and pedophiles can’t wait for, by the way! A measure that is supposed to protect children, would actually expose both children and all of us even more. Because, wait, it’s about child safety. Irony in all its glory.

Today we would read messages “for the protection of children”. Tomorrow they will be read “for the security of the country”. And the day after tomorrow?

Let me be clear as always. Pedophilia must be prosecuted without mercy. That is why we have already adopted stricter penalties in the EU. But at the same time, I am convinced that the solution is not algorithms that will simply comb through everything we privately send to someone. The solution is awareness-raising, education of children and parents, effective work of the police and courts, strict legislation. And of course – clear rules that also protect our privacy.

“Chat control”? “Chat control” is a dangerous farce and as long as I am in the European Parliament, I will do everything to prevent it.

Anyone who believes that mass surveillance will protect children, believes in fairy tales. And this fairy tale in particular, is one without happy ending. Privacy is our right.

Where are you now, those of you who asked yourself a year ago, who am I protecting? Now I ask you. Who are you protecting? Who were you protecting yesterday, who are you protecting today, and who will you be protecting tomorrow?

– Irena