Organisations call for permanent European law against online abuse
Children’s rights organisations want platforms to identify risks sooner, remove material faster and protect children better.
Children’s rights organisations are calling for lasting European rules against online sexual abuse of children. Their appeal comes after the EU approved a temporary scheme in July that, subject to conditions, allows online services once again to voluntarily detect abuse material.
The European Council says the temporary regulation is needed to bridge a legal gap. The scheme applies until April 2028 and is intended to prevent online services that voluntarily detect, remove and report child abuse material from having to stop abruptly.
At the same time, European institutions are negotiating permanent legislation. This would involve obligations for online services to map risks, take appropriate measures and process reports of possible abuse. The precise balance between child safety, privacy and encrypted communications is still the subject of political debate.
In September, UNICEF estimated that in 21 countries studied, around 20 million children aged 12 to 17 experienced sexual abuse or exploitation involving digital technology within one year. The organisation warned that large social platforms and online games can give adults relatively easy access to children.
This week, the Dutch government presented a broader strategy for children’s rights online. It includes stricter requirements for digital services, a possible European minimum age for social media, and research into the effects of services such as YouTube, Roblox, Instagram, TikTok and ChatGPT.
Children’s rights organisations want responsibility not to lie mainly with children and parents. They are calling for safe-by-design systems, children’s rights impact assessments and effective oversight. Opponents of broad detection obligations instead point to the risk of mass surveillance, false reports and the weakening of confidential communications. The outcome of the European legislative process therefore remains uncertain.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The EU has adopted a temporary scheme for the voluntary detection of online child abuse.
- The EU is negotiating permanent legislation.
- Children’s rights organisations are calling for greater responsibility from online services.
Left
Arguments Platforms should build safety in by default and must not shift responsibility onto children, parents or individual support workers. Governments should set firm requirements for design, oversight and assistance to victims.
Values Children’s rights, protection of vulnerable groups and public oversight of powerful technology companies.
Consequences Stricter rules could limit abuse more quickly, but require extensive oversight and could create new privacy risks.
Centre
Arguments Europe needs rules focused on demonstrable risks, with independent review, human assessment and effective avenues for appeal. Child safety and privacy must be protected together.
Values Proportionality, legal certainty and trust in institutions.
Consequences A targeted approach is more legally defensible, but may detect less material than a broad detection obligation.
Right
Arguments Online services must protect their customers, and children in particular, better, even if that requires stricter age checks and mandatory reporting. Privacy must not become a shield for criminals.
Values Safety, corporate responsibility and the protection of families.
Consequences More detection could bring abuse to light more quickly, but false reports and damage to confidential communications remain genuine risks.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The legal status of the temporary EU scheme and the Dutch strategy can be verified. Figures and positions are clearly attributed to their sources.
- confirmed The temporary EU scheme applies until 3 April 2028. — The Council of the EU gives this end date. source
- confirmed UNICEF estimated that 20 million children in 21 countries experienced technology-facilitated sexual abuse or exploitation. — This is stated in UNICEF’s publication of 3 September 2026. source
- confirmed The Netherlands is working on a strategy that includes, among other things, stricter rules and a possible European minimum age. — This is stated in the Cabinet’s strategy. source
Editor's note
The figure of 20 million comes from research in 21 countries and is not a worldwide count. Permanent European legislation does not yet exist; the organisations’ demands are positions, not established policy.Sources
- Seksueel misbruik van kinderen voorkomen — Raad van de Europese Unie
- Kabinet presenteert strategie om kinderen online te beschermen — Rijksoverheid
- 20 miljoen kinderen slachtoffer van online seksueel misbruik en uitbuiting — UNICEF Nederland
- Meta-schikking zet nieuwe standaard voor online kindveiligheid — Terre des Hommes
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „online kindermisbruik”
- de Volkskrant — „online kindermisbruik”
- NOS — „online kindermisbruik”