Strengthening Rules to Combat Online Child Sexual Abuse: Temporary Derogation and Future Procedures
The European Parliament has voted by a clear majority to extend the exemption from privacy rules that allows the detection of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. With this approval, the derogation will be extended until April 3, 2026. The aim is to reach an agreement on a permanent legal framework for preventing and combating online child sexual abuse.
This decision received support from the majority of Members of Parliament, with 469 votes in favor, 112 against, and 37 abstentions. The Parliament emphasizes the importance of achieving a permanent solution and urges the Council to reach an agreement on the long-term legal framework.
The temporary derogation will provide time to achieve consensus on the types of data that should be shared and the measures implemented to detect pornographic material. The lack of a unified data collection model has led to variations and the need for harmonization.
Rapporteur Birgit Sippel highlighted the importance of preventing online child sexual abuse and expressed hope for a permanent solution, calling on the Council to engage in negotiations.
This extension acknowledges the seriousness of the problem and the need for ongoing efforts to protect children online.
From the European Parliament press release
