Estonian Minister of Education Kristina Kallas stated that Estonia opposes the so-called 'chat control', which involves mandatory monitoring of private online conversations, during a government press briefing. She emphasized that Estonia has made its position clear in the ongoing discussions within the European Parliament on this controversial legislation, which has met with considerable pushback across the continent. The issue has sparked intense debate concerning the balance between protecting children and upholding privacy rights in digital communication.

While the Estonian government has voiced its opposition to 'chat control', it has supported a modified version of the proposal that allows communication platforms to voluntarily scan users' messages under certain circumstances. This nuanced stance indicates Estonia's attempt to address child protection concerns while still prioritizing user privacy. Kallas responded to student inquiries at the press conference, reiterating that the country aims to safeguard both the rights of individuals and the welfare of children.

In late November, European governments reached a preliminary agreement on this legislation, clarifying that the proposed law would no longer mandate the blanket monitoring of conversations. Nonetheless, the implications of such a law remain significant, as it still permits some level of scanning, raising concerns among privacy advocates about potential abuses and the erosion of trust in digital communication. As EU negotiations continue, Estonia’s position reflects broader tensions within the bloc regarding internet privacy and security.