I can understand why governments would push for something like this after 9/11, though it of course goes without saying that this is a totally unacceptable violation of someone’s basic rights. It also goes without saying that governments always want more control over their citizens, but what exactly are they so worried might happen, right now, in 2025 or the near future?
It’s not new. Maybe it’s new to you but European conservatives always tried this, at least in Germany. They never missed a chance to try to implement harsher and broader surveillance and have many times had their laws repealed by the federal constitutional court.
Also the chatcontrol laws have been in the making for years in the EU, but over those years they have been reworked or not gotten enough votes again and again.
Now why do conservatives want surveillance? I think it’s about control. Just like they believe a father should have ultimate control over his children (be allowed to hit them etc), they think that police shouldn’t have to stop at anything while researching a matter.
Also there probably is lobbying by state agencies and those selling surveillance tech and whatnot.