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.
IWF supports the Online Safety Act by helping adult sites detect, remove, and prevent child sexual abuse imagery online.
IWF reveals 2024 as the worst year for online child sexual abuse imagery urging the Prime Minister to strengthen the Online Safety Act and close critical loopholes.
Tech Secretary sees ‘heartbreaking’ scale of online child sexual abuse on IWF hotline visit as ‘transformational’ online safety rules come into effect
The IWF is one of the most effective hotlines in the world at removing child sexual abuse imagery from the internet, but this has only been possible thanks to the key international partnerships.
A cyber-led sporting challenge reaches new heights: expanding impact in tear two. Pinsent Masons’ steadfast commitment has done more than just raise funds; it has put a spotlight on the critical work of the IWF.