Online platforms must continue search for child abuse material

Internet service providers in Europe have become the largest host of child sexual abuse material in the world. The EPP Group is pushing for an interim exception from the EU's ePrivacy law to allow online platforms to continue to voluntarily scan for child sexual abuse material.

"We have worked hard to make sure that service providers will be able to continue to detect, report and remove child sexual abuse. But also to make sure that service providers will have the tools to identify child predators who groom children for abuse in online chats", said EPP Group negotiator Javier Zarzalejos MEP, ahead of today's vote on the exception in Parliament's Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee.

The interim solution would stay in place until a long-term, more comprehensive framework to tackle child sexual abuse online is put in place next year.

"To allow the valuable voluntary scanning to continue without disruption, we urge Member States to help us reach a quick agreement. This new law must be in place by 21 December", insisted Zarzalejos. Under current ePrivacy laws, the current practice would become unlawful by that date.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a horrific increase in child sexual abuse in the past months. Fighting these atrocious crimes, both online and in the real world that concern the most vulnerable members of society, is a fundamental priority for the EPP Group. We will always stand up for these children", concluded Zarzalejos.