EU reinstates tool to detect child sexual abuse images, France's child commissioner calls for stronger action

The European Union has re‑authorized a tool that allows digital platforms to detect child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in user communications, excluding content protected by end‑to‑end encryption. The measure, adopted on 23 July, is temporary and will remain in force until April 2028, ending a four‑month legal vacuum for platforms that had lost the authority to scan and remove such content.

France’s High Commissioner for Children, Sarah El Haïry, welcomed the reinstatement, stating that each report can save a child and help prosecute predators. She warned that the step is only a “half‑step” and urged broader cooperation between states, platforms and investigative services, greater investment in detection tools, faster removal of illegal content, improved reporting mechanisms, and stronger prevention and victim protection. El Haïry also called for child protection to become a trust criterion for technology, alongside cybersecurity and data safety.