10/04/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 10 April, the European Parliament approved by 469 votes to 112, with 37 abstentions, the extension until April 2026 of the interim European rules on the voluntary removal of online child sexual abuse material. The current measures (a derogation from the ePrivacy directive on the confidentiality of communications), which were due to expire in August in the absence of a permanent regulation on the subject, will remain in force until 3 April 2026, according to a press release. The MEPs insisted on the need to agree on a permanent framework. The extension will enable companies to detect online child sexual abuse material, and the reports submitted by platforms on the voluntary measures taken by companies to detect child sexual abuse material will be harmonised. An agreement was reached with the EU Council on 15 February (see EUROPE 13351/14). (SP)