EU States Reject Mandatory Big Tech Child Abuse Content Detection
- tech360.tv
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
European Union member states have agreed a common position on draft online child protection legislation.
This decision means global technology companies will not be forced to identify and remove online child sexual abuse material.
The position, announced on Wednesday by the European Council, represents a victory for US companies such as Alphabet’s Google, Meta and others, along with anti-surveillance activists. They had argued that draft rules threatened privacy. This is part of a wider pushback against regulation led by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The EU position is less prescriptive than a 2023 position by the European Parliament. The Parliament’s stance would have required messaging services, app stores, and internet access providers to report and remove known and new images, videos, and cases of grooming.
Legislation was drawn up in 2022 to strengthen coordination across the 27 countries of the European Union. Its aim is to prevent online abuse that increasingly crosses borders. EU countries must now finalise details of the draft legislation with EU lawmakers before it can become law.
The Council stated that online providers must assess the risk of their services disseminating child sexual abuse material or soliciting children for sexual abuse. They must also take preventative measures. However, enforcement remains with national governments.
Member states will designate national authorities responsible for assessing these risk assessments and mitigating measures. These authorities will have the possibility of obliging providers to carry out mitigating measures. Non-compliant providers could face penalty payments.
The law will also allow companies to voluntarily check content shared on their platforms for child sexual abuse beyond April next year. This is when the current exemption from online privacy rules expires.
An EU Centre on Child Sexual Abuse will be established to help countries comply and provide assistance for victims. Denmark’s Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard welcomed the common position.
Mr. Hummelgaard stated, “Every year, millions of files are shared that depict the sexual abuse of children. And behind every single image and video, there is a child who has been subjected to the most horrific and terrible abuse. This is completely unacceptable.”
The European Parliament also called on the European Union to set minimum ages for children to access social media. This non-binding call aims to combat a rise in mental health problems among adolescents from excessive exposure.
Australia is poised to institute the world’s first social media ban for children younger than 16. Denmark and Malaysia also plan such bans.
EU member states agreed a common position on child protection legislation without mandating tech companies detect child sexual abuse.
This decision is a victory for US tech companies, including Alphabet's Google and Meta, and privacy activists.
The EU Council's position is less strict than a 2023 European Parliament proposal for online child protection.
Source: REUTERS
