The European Union will no longer seek to force online platforms and messaging services to detect images of child sexual abuse by scanning private messages, officials announced on October 30th.
In 2022, the EU executive proposed requiring platforms to detect and report images and videos of abuse, as well as attempts by predators to contact minors. Under current rules, platforms detect abusive images on a voluntary basis but the supporting legal framework expires after April 2026.
Supported by several child protection groups, the plans nicknamed “Chat Control” sparked fierce debate inside the 27-country bloc. Critics including the EU’s own data protection authorities, lawmakers, and countries such as Germany—warned of the “disportionate” threat to privacy. They were especially alarmed by the envisaged use of technology to scan private chats, including on encrypted apps like Signal and WhatsApp.
Several attempts to strike a deal between the 27 EU member states however failed “due to complicated discussions on particular privacy and cybersecurity”, a European diplomat said.
Denmark, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, will now propose to remove a measure that would allow authorities to issue orders to require platforms to scan images and link—and keep the voluntary regime, despite the fact that Denmark actually wanted to renew the system but make detection mandatory.
Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard told AFP
If we continue negotiations based on the previous compromise proposal, there is a serious risk that we will find ourselves for a long period without the tool we have today… We cannot afford that.
He added that the amended proposal was not “what we need but it’s better than a step back”.
A report by the UK-based Internet Watch Foundation found that 62% of the child sexual abuse material identified internationally last year was hosted on servers within the EU.
