On 3 April, essential child protection systems used by technology companies to detect and remove online child sexual abuse material will become illegal to operate in the EU unless the European Parliament votes to extend the current legal framework. A temporary law allowing voluntary detection is expiring, and political deadlock has stalled a permanent solution. This will create a dangerous legal vacuum that perpetrators are aware of and poised to exploit. Proven tools like hash‑matching - which do not compromise privacy - would be forced offline, enabling millions of known abusive images to resurface. Research shows these systems deter offenders and make access harder; disabling them will reverse this progress. MEPs have one final chance to act by voting for an amendment that preserves protections for children across Europe.
The ‘shocking’ images of children can involve penetrative sexual activity, sexual activity with an animal, and sadism.
The Government must now act on the Committee’s recommendations to make sure this legislation brings in the strong and effective safeguards we need to keep children safe online.
The Internet Watch Foundation has welcomed moves to help protect children online.
Peers warn lack of clarity on IWF role could create ‘vacuum which allows hateful material to proliferate’
Our 2025 Annual Data & Insights Report analyses the rise of sexually coerced extortion. Explore the latest trends and data on this persistent online harm.
Public debate around online child sexual abuse material detection is dominated by myths, misunderstandings, and hypotheticals. The truth is that detection technology is built on established safety and security tools that have been embedded across the digital ecosystem for decades.
13 organisations launch campaign to stop the spread of child sexual abuse material online
Explore how IWF identifies and addresses non-photographic child sexual abuse imagery, including drawings and CGI, under UK legislation.
Last year was the “most extreme year on record” for child sexual abuse online, UK based charity Internet Watch Foundation warned.
Criminals and paedophiles are trying to groom and exploit young siblings as part of an emerging trend of online sexual abuse, experts have warned.