The 27 member nations of the European Union gave their approval Thursday to bring back a short-term measure that permits tech giants like Google, Meta, and other online platforms to identify and take down child sexual abuse material — all without running afoul of privacy regulations.
This decision came roughly two weeks after EU legislators approved the temporary fix, which is designed to give both sides additional time to work toward a lasting solution in the fight against online child sexual exploitation.
The measure had originally been in effect from 2021 until it expired this past April. With Thursday’s approval, the rule will now remain active through April 3, 2028.
Irish justice minister Jim O’Callaghan commented on the swift action following the legal void left when the earlier exemption to the ePrivacy Regulation expired. “With the green light given, we have moved quickly to address the legal gap that existed when the derogation to the ePrivacy Regulation lapsed in April,” he said.
EU member nations also agreed to a change put forward by lawmakers that carves out an exception for end-to-end encrypted messaging platforms — including WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal — from being covered under this interim rule. However, officials made clear that this exemption does not mean encrypted services will automatically be excluded from any future permanent regulations.
The broader debate continues to pit those who champion online child safety measures against privacy advocates who fear expanded government surveillance. That ongoing tension has stalled efforts to pass permanent legislation, even though the European Commission put forward a draft proposal back in 2022.
