On Monday, March 10, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressing strong opposition to the Strengthening Transparency and Obligation to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment Act (STOP CSAM Act), ahead of a committee hearing on the bill.

The EFF had previously opposed the original and amended versions of this bill during the previous Congress. However, the organization is deeply concerned that the Committee is moving forward with considering the same flawed ideas in the current Congress. At its core, STOP CSAM poses a significant threat to the privacy, security, and free speech of every American by endangering encrypted messages.

"We cannot stress enough how grave the consequences of this bill are," said EFF. "By compromising on end-to-end encryption, we risk fundamentally altering our online communications and exposing individuals to unprecedented surveillance risks."

In the digital world, encryption is widely recognized as a vital tool for maintaining both individual and national security. By bolstering encryption, lawmakers can help protect against threats like the recent breach of telecom systems in October 2024, attributed to Salt Typhoon, a sophisticated Chinese-government backed hacking group.

"Given its significant problems and potential vast impact on internet users," said an unnamed top U.S. cybersecurity chief, "encryption is your friend." This sentiment echoes the views of many experts who argue that encryption is essential for safeguarding our online activities and preventing exploitation by malicious actors.

The EFF urges the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject this bill, citing its numerous problems and potential consequences on internet users. By doing so, lawmakers can prioritize measures that truly strengthen online security without compromising individual freedoms.