On Wednesday 20 December, the ambassadors of the EU Member States approved the Council’s negotiating mandate for a regulation extending a provisional derogation from the e-privacy directive aimed at combating online child sexual abuse (see EUROPE 13305/5).
In 2021, the EU adopted a law that allows providers of certain online services to derogate from data protection rules in the electronic communications sector.
Providers of number-independent interpersonal communications services (e.g. messaging services) have been authorised to use specific technologies for processing personal and other data in order to detect, report and remove online child sexual abuse on their services.
This derogation was limited in time and was due to expire on 3 August 2024. It was intended to fill the gap until a new European law, currently before the Council and the European Parliament, provides a permanent legal framework for the detection of child sexual abuse material online, explains the Council of the EU in a press release.
The regulation on which the ambassadors of the EU Member States reached a common position today will extend the provisional measure until 3 August 2027. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)