this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2026
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/71975475

Today, the European Parliament allowed the suspicionless mass scanning of private communications (“Chat Control 1.0”) to pass, a measure it had rejected twice in March. Although a majority of voting Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) actually opposed the regulation (314 against, 276 in favor, 17 abstentions), the motion to reject it failed to secure the required absolute majority of 361 votes. As a result, mass scanning is now permitted again until 2028.

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[–] illi@sh.itjust.works 36 points 2 days ago (4 children)

This truly is bonkers.

Although a majority of voting Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) actually opposed the regulation (314 against, 276 in favor, 17 abstentions), the motion to reject it failed to secure the required absolute majority of 361 votes.

More people is against it than in favor, but the number of people against it is not sufficient so it gets passed? How can that ever be possible?

[–] Zak@lemmy.world 28 points 2 days ago (1 children)

They used a procedural trick which only had to pass by a majority of those present to create a situation where it would need an absolute majority to fail in the next vote.

This happened as many MEPs have already left for their summer break and were therefore absent and unable to vote. It appears that Parliament President Roberta Metsola engineered this, but I haven't looked in to it in detail.

[–] limonfiesta@lemmy.world 16 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Every MEP who participated in the subversion of democracy in favor of totalitarianism and mass surveillance, is an enemy of the people and should be treated as such.

And anyone involved in orchestrating this situation is an enemy of the state, as they have clearly exploited a flaw of the system to undermine the authority of lawmakers.

[–] Korkki@lemmy.ml 15 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

They arranged a vote that required absolute majority just before summer break. devious and calculated.

[–] theherk@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

It would be bonkers, but it is flipped.

[–] melroy@kbin.melroy.org 1 points 2 days ago

exactly my point..