This is sadly no April Fool’s joke: Europe is switching off its detection of child sexual abuse online
On 3 April 2026, online service providers in the EU will no longer be able to detect and remove child sexual abuse content on their platforms.
We, a coalition of 247 organisations working to advancing children’s rights and ending sexual abuse, strongly condemn EU policymakers’ failure to extend the legal basis that allowed these detection activities. This failure creates a deeply alarming and irresponsible gap in child protection. The consequences will be devastating - in Europe and beyond.
Without detection, reports of child sexual abuse material will drop dramatically, as seen during the previous lapse in the legal framework in 2021. Behind every image and video is a child, forced to endure the repeated violation of their fundamental rights, including their right to privacy.
Protection of children is not optional; it is a duty grounded in the EU and international frameworks. We call on EU policymakers to act with urgency and responsibility by adopting, without delay, an ambitious and permanent legal framework.
