European Parliament backs child‑abuse detection amendment, preserving end‑to‑end encryption

The European Parliament approved amendments to the EU’s privacy rules that would let electronic‑communication services voluntarily detect and report material related to child sexual abuse. The text keeps end‑to‑end encrypted communications exempt from automatic scanning and will be sent to the EU Council, which has three months to decide whether to adopt the proposal or reopen negotiations. Experts warn that exempting encrypted messages could make it harder to uncover abuse, as criminals often use such channels.

In Istria, Croatia, a man was caught filming naked children at a tourist site. The incident prompted the Center for Missing and Abused Children and the Center for Safer Internet to intensify a campaign – “The best children’s swimsuit is the one you wear” – across the Adriatic coast. The programme educates parents, staff and tourists on recognizing hidden cameras, reporting suspicious behaviour and protecting children’s privacy on beaches and pools.