EU revives controversial law on scanning for abuse material
A controversial legislative proposal regarding the voluntary scanning of material featuring child sexual abuse, which had previously been sidelined, has been revived within the EU.
What happened?
A proposal to allow technology companies to scan user communications to detect child sexual abuse material (CSAM) has once again become topical. The proposal, which previously faced significant opposition, was intended to extend temporary exemptions from privacy regulations.
Key facts
| Undantagets giltighetstid (föregående) | Till 3 april 2026 |
|---|---|
| Omröstning i Europaparlamentet | 6 juli 2026 |
| Klassificering | Policy |
Why it matters
The debate surrounding the proposal concerns the balance between protecting children online and maintaining individual privacy. Critics argue the bill risks leading to mass surveillance, while proponents emphasise the importance of combating the spread of CSAM.
Who is affected?
This primarily affects technology companies providing communication services, as well as all EU citizens whose digital privacy may be impacted. Organisations working with child protection and digital rights are also affected.
Impact on the EU
The proposal is being processed within the EU institutions and aims to regulate procedures for tech companies throughout the union. This is linked to a vote in the European Parliament on 6 July 2026 regarding the reactivation of the exemption to the ePrivacy Directive. The current exemption was valid until 3 April 2026.
What else you should know
The European Council is further discussing whether negotiations on an extension of these temporary exemptions from privacy rules should continue.
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