Europol doesn't only want an encryption backdoor, but also your metadata

• Europol’s 2025 Internet Organized Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA) indicates E2EE (end-to-end encrypted) apps as an obstacle to investigations
• The report also calls for better rules on metadata collection and tracking
• This comes as the EU Commission has unveiled a new plan to create a roadmap for lawful and effective access to data for law enforcement

Criminals are increasingly exploiting end-to-end encrypted apps to impede police investigations, according to Europol’s 2025 Internet Organized Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA).

The report also warns that current metadata collection practices are too limited, further complicating the work of law enforcement. This is why Europol highlights the need to establish lawful access by design to encrypted communications, alongside EU standards for the targeted retention and access to metadata.

Europol's recommendations echo the EU Commission's plan for creating an encryption backdoor for law enforcement – something experts ...