The European Parliament today failed to agree on the extension of temporary rules permitting electronic communications service providers to scan for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) while the long-term EU framework is still under negotiation. As a result of today’s vote, the current ePrivacy Directive derogation will expire on 3 April 2026, making such scanning illegal in Europe.
Following the Parliament’s vote, the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA Europe) issued the following statement.
The following can be attributed to CCIA Europe’s Privacy and Safety Lead, Claudia Canelles Quaroni:
“By failing to agree on this extension, EU lawmakers are pushing online platforms into a legal vacuum. Protecting children online is a top priority for our Members. CCIA Europe regrets that such a straightforward matter cannot be resolved by the EU co-legislators, creating uncertainty that benefits no one.”
“In the immediate future, we urgently need assurances from regulators that online platforms that continue detecting and reporting CSAM will not be penalised for non-compliance with the ePrivacy Directive until lawmakers rapidly agree on a clear solution.”
“This looming legal vacuum underlines the urgent need for a long-term CSAM Regulation that provides lasting legal certainty. Europe cannot continue to rely on last-minute extensions. The EU institutions must urgently focus on providing a robust, permanent framework that allows for the effective detection of abuse while safeguarding people’s privacy.”
