EU Decides Not to Require Tech Companies to Remove CSAM
TL;DR
The European Union has opted not to mandate global tech companies to identify and remove child sexual abuse material (CSAM), a significant win for companies like Google and Meta.
European Union Legislation and Online Protection
The European Union (EU) has decided not to require global tech companies to identify and remove child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This decision, backed by member states, is seen as a significant victory for companies like Google and Meta, as reported by Reuters.
Changes in Legislation Proposal
Recently, the language from the European Council contradicted a prior position from the 2023 decade that aimed for messaging services, app stores, and internet providers to report and remove CSAM. The new proposal does not foresee such obligations.
Instead, the responsibility lies in assessing the risks of their services and adopting preventive measures, leaving enforcement to national governments, rather than the EU governing body.
Responsibilities and Consequences
The European Council's statement noted: "Member states will designate national authorities responsible for assessing these risks and mitigating measures. In case of non-compliance, providers may face penalties." This means that the implementation of the law will depend on the actions of each country.
Furthermore, the requirement to scan encrypted materials for CSAM identification, a recently discussed idea, remains absent. However, there are mentions reinforcing the need for protections for encryption services.
Criticism of Self-Compliance Process
Critics like Czech Markéta Gregorová expressed dissatisfaction with the idea of allowing tech companies to self-regulate, stating that this could jeopardize encryption platforms. According to her, this represents a significant disappointment for privacy advocates.
Establishment of the EU Center on Child Sexual Abuse
The proposed legislation also includes the creation of the EU Center on Child Sexual Abuse, which is intended to assist countries in compliance and provide support for victims. Additionally, the European Parliament suggested defining minimum ages for children's use of social media, although there is no concrete legislation on this matter.
Next Steps
This is still not a definitive agreement. The European Council must now begin negotiations with the European Parliament. The outcome of these discussions could shape the future of child protection legislation online in Europe.
Content selected and edited with AI assistance. Original sources referenced above.
