The ‘privacy cult’ means EU online child sex abuse protections will expire – EUobserver
The ‘privacy cult’ means EU online child sex abuse protections will expire – EUobserver
Publish Date: 2026-03-27 09:07:00
Source Domain: euobserver.com
The European Parliament has voted not to prolong an interim derogation from e-Privacy rules that allows online service providers to voluntarily detect, remove, and report child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and grooming.
With 311 votes against, the commission’s proposal to extend these measures was rejected, leaving this essential safeguard set to expire on 3 April 2026.
This decision is deeply concerning for child protection.
The interim derogation is not merely a technicality; it enables platforms to detect both known and previously unidentified CSAM, triggering law enforcement investigations, the removal of abusive content, and, crucially, the identification and protection of child victims.
Without this legal basis, detection tools cannot be used safely, leaving children exposed to ongoing abuse and limiting the ability of authorities to prosecute offenders.
Without these detection measures, countless children will remain trapped in abusive situations, their suffering unseen and unaddressed.
Each child left without timely support, protection, and access to justice risks carrying trauma into adulthood, undermining their ability to trust institutions, form healthy relationships, and participate fully in society.
This is not just a failure for individual victims; it erodes the very foundations of democracy and social cohesion. A society that allows its most vulnerable members to grow up unprotected sends a message that rights and protections are conditional, weakening civic trust and the social contract for future generations.
Supporting child victims is an investment in a safer, more resilient society; denying them care and recovery leaves both children and our collective democratic future exposed.
The ‘privacy cult’
The latest vote reflects the triumph of what I would call the “privacy cult,” prioritising theoretical data protection over the tangible rights and safety of children.
By rejecting the extension of…
