The European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, announced on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday 9 October, that she will appear before the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties (LIBE) on 25 October to answer questions surrounding her position on the regulation on the removal of child sexual abuse material from the internet and possible collusion with the interests of technology companies (see EUROPE 13265/12).
“The more light we shine on the proposal and process, the more people will understand that this has always been about protecting children”, commented the Commissioner.
Ms Johansson was invited by the committee to provide explanations on this subject. The LIBE Committee also invited a journalist from ‘Follow the Money’, who revealed the existence of letters between the Commissioner and US technology companies prior to the presentation of the regulation.
“We will ask Commissioner Johansson to account for her legislative proposal and her lobbying activities in the exercise of her duties”, said Patrick Breyer (Greens/EFA, German).
“We need full access to all of DG HOME’s correspondence with the technological surveillance network so that we can see for ourselves the extent to which foreign lobbyists have drafted this proposal”, added the Pirate Party MEP.
EU Council in limbo
While the European Parliament still has to approve its position, put forward by Spain’s Javier Zarzalejos (EPP) (see EUROPE 13170/9), in principle on 26 October for confirmation by the plenary in November, the situation remains unclear at the EU Council, with the Spanish Presidency still having to decide whether to add the subject to the agenda of the ‘Home Affairs’ Council on 19 October to possibly obtain a partial general approach.
Several sources contacted on 10 October were unable to predict the Presidency’s decision.
The latest compromise text dates from 8 September. In any case, the Presidency is only aiming for a partial agreement, as the location of the future European Centre dedicated to combating the online distribution of child sexual abuse material, which will assist Member States and businesses in implementing this regulation, has not yet been decided, according to a source.
The Commission has proposed that it be attached to Europol in The Hague.
For countries such as Germany, which are opposed to detection technologies that would amount to widespread surveillance of communications, a green light in recent days has been conditional on improvements on this point.
On 13 October, the Member States’ ambassadors will discuss the agenda for the ‘Home Affairs’ Council of 19 October. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)