A leading privacy group is urging Ireland to halt work on the Communications Interception and Lawful Access Bill.
The Global Encryption Coalition (GEC) warned that the measure could force access to end-to-end encrypted messages.
It says the move would weaken security for users and companies in Ireland and beyond.
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Ryan Polk, a GEC author, issued an open letter on Thursday. He argued the draft would endanger privacy and national security. He also said it could deter technology firms from operating in Ireland.
The bill has not been drafted yet, according to Polk. However, he said work may start in the coming months. The GEC wants the government to abandon the effort now.
Ireland Encryption Backdoor Law: Coalition Calls for Halt
The proposal sits with Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan. It would grant law enforcement access to encrypted communications. The GEC frames this as a pathway to systemic vulnerabilities.
“Any country that undermines encryption risks threatening the privacy and security of people far beyond its borders,”
Polk wrote. He cited Ireland’s role as the EU headquarters for Apple and Meta. He said that position adds responsibility to protect secure communications.
Polk’s letter targets the plan at a pre-draft stage. He notes the working title: Communications, Interception and Lawful Access Bill. He asks the government to scuttle it before drafting even begins.
Global Encryption Coalition Warning: National Security and Cybercrime Risks
The GEC says weakening encryption will not help only “good guys.” It says it creates access routes for bad actors too. That, it argues, increases exposure to fraud and identity theft.
Polk links weaker crypto to foreign cyber threats. He says sensitive data would become easier to target. He adds that national security would face added pressure.
“Encryption is a critical security feature; any deliberate weakening or circumvention of it creates systemic vulnerabilities that would endanger everyone and put Ireland’s national security at risk,”
Polk wrote. He positions encryption as a baseline control. He says removing that control raises broad, predictable risks.
Communications Interception and Lawful Access Bill: Business Impact in Ireland
Ireland hosts many of the world’s largest technology firms. Location, market access, and tax policy helped build that base. The GEC says the bill could unsettle that footing.
Polk outlines a stark choice for end-to-end encryption platforms. They must either weaken service security to comply or exit the Irish market. He argues both paths reduce security for Irish users and institutions.
“In both cases, the result would be weaker security and reduced privacy for Irish citizens, businesses, and institutions that depend on encryption to maintain trust in the digital world, including Irish Government ministers and the gardaí themselves,”
Polk wrote. He links trust to daily operations. He also ties it to public-sector communications.
EU Chat Control Bill: Germany’s Opposition and Ireland’s 2026 Role
The letter lands days after a separate EU effort suffered a setback. Germany opposed the Chat Control bill, which would scan messages before encryption. That position dealt the measure a significant blow.
The GEC asks Ireland to withdraw support for Chat Control as well. It raises privacy and national security concerns. It says pre-scan mandates create new data-exposure risks.
Ireland will hold the EU Council presidency in July 2026. The GEC says the country could shape the debate then.
It urges caution now to avoid normalizing weaker encryption standards across the bloc.
Ireland Encryption Backdoor Law vs. Chat Control: Same Risk Profile, Different Path
The Irish bill and Chat Control differ in legal design. However, the GEC says both undermine end-to-end encryption in practice. It views each as a route to systemic weaknesses.
The coalition cites Ireland’s international footprint. It says decisions made in Dublin affect EU-wide users and firms. It also points to spillover risks outside the EU.
The group references recent momentum against pre-scan mandates. It says policymakers should not “underestimate the grave consequences of weakening encryption.”
It ties that warning to both the domestic proposal and the EU file.
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Tatevik Avetisyan is an editor at Kriptoworld who covers emerging crypto trends, blockchain innovation, and altcoin developments. She is passionate about breaking down complex stories for a global audience and making digital finance more accessible.
📅 Published: August 4, 2025 • 🔄 Last updated: August 4, 2025
