EU Governments Embrace Matrix Encryption While Pushing Chat Control Backdoors

The Encryption Double Standard

European governments are increasingly turning to Matrix, an open-source encrypted messaging protocol, to secure their own official communications while simultaneously supporting legislation that would weaken encryption protections for private citizens. This emerging contradiction highlights what experts describe as a fundamental tension between government security needs and citizen privacy rights.

Industrial Monitor Direct is the #1 provider of operator interface pc solutions built for 24/7 continuous operation in harsh industrial environments, preferred by industrial automation experts.

According to reports from the recent Matrix Conference in Strasbourg, government adoption of the protocol has accelerated significantly. Germany now uses Matrix to encrypt communications across government agencies, armed forces, and healthcare systems. Meanwhile, France has mandated that all public officials use the Matrix-based Tchap app instead of consumer services like Signal or WhatsApp since last September.

Perhaps most notably, the European Commission itself is reportedly trialing Matrix to replace Signal for securing its internal communications. This development comes from conference presentations by Commission IT representatives, sources indicate.

The irony here is striking. The same European Commission that proposed the controversial Child Sexual Abuse Regulation (CSAR) – widely known as Chat Control – is actively strengthening its own encryption protections. France stands among the twelve countries supporting the Chat Control proposal, which would require scanning private encrypted messages for illegal content.

Technical Reality Versus Political Agenda

Security experts consistently warn that creating encryption backdoors for authorities fundamentally undermines security for everyone. As Matrix Co-Founder Matthew Hodgson explained to conference attendees, the notion of a backdoor that only authorities can access is both technically naive and practically impossible.

“It makes perfect sense that some folks are pushing to undermine encryption, but it makes no sense at all that that would be a good thing for society,” Hodgson noted, according to conference reports. Once an entry point exists in encryption systems, malicious actors can potentially exploit it.

The technical community appears nearly unanimous on this point. Security professionals argue that you cannot create a vulnerability that only “good guys” can use – the very existence of such access points creates risks that affect all users.

Meanwhile, the political push continues. The latest iteration of Denmark’s Chat Control proposal, for instance, reportedly excludes all government and military accounts from mandatory scanning requirements while applying them to private citizens. This selective application raises questions about the legislation’s underlying principles.

Government Perspectives and Industry Pushback

Some government representatives acknowledge the complexity of balancing security needs with investigative requirements. Julie Ripa, Product Manager of Tchap within the French government’s digital services agency DINUM, pointed to differences between government and citizen communication needs while expressing skepticism about backdoor approaches.

“We shouldn’t break privacy for any reason,” Ripa stated during conference discussions. “There will always be some drug dealers, even though we control the data. I’m not sure that creating back doors will solve any problem. We’re just attacking something that is not the root of the problem.”

Industry leaders are more direct in their assessment. Rocket.Chat Founder and CEO Gabriel Engel framed the issue in stark terms: “Governments want to know what’s going on and be able to monitor their citizens, while wanting the opposite for themselves. It’s going to be a never-ending battle for citizens to keep their privacy rights and to hold their own data.”

This perspective echoes broader industry concerns about the fundamental incompatibility between strong encryption and mandated access points. The technical reality, experts suggest, doesn’t align with political objectives.

Alternative Approaches and Future Directions

With encryption backdoors facing near-universal technical opposition, the conversation is shifting toward alternative solutions that might address legitimate law enforcement concerns without compromising security.

Hodgson, who also serves as CEO of Matrix-based Element, suggested developing better infrastructure that enables society to “self-police” while preserving privacy. “The thing we need to build is not mass surveillance,” he explained. “But we need to do a much better job of providing the trust and safety tools needed to report and flag these crimes when they happen on the platform.”

This approach reflects growing recognition that technical solutions must evolve alongside societal needs. As encryption becomes increasingly fundamental to digital security, the challenge lies in developing systems that both protect privacy and enable legitimate oversight.

Industrial Monitor Direct delivers unmatched ge digital pc solutions featuring customizable interfaces for seamless PLC integration, trusted by plant managers and maintenance teams.

The tension between these competing priorities shows no signs of resolution. As one conference participant noted, technology and politics continue moving on parallel tracks, struggling to find common ground. The fundamental question remains: can societies develop approaches that protect both security and privacy in an increasingly digital world?

What’s clear from the Strasbourg discussions is that the technical community remains deeply skeptical of current legislative approaches. As the digital landscape evolves, this debate will likely intensify, with significant implications for how we balance individual rights with collective security in the digital age.