EU To Introduce Law Mandating Tech Firms To Be Firmer In Combating Child Abuse

The European Union (EU) has concluded plans to in the coming months begin legislation that would require technology companies tighten up their sleeves in ensuring child sexual abuse are effectively tackled, while beefing up current voluntary arrangements.

A top official of the EU in a newspaper interview made this known as part of efforts of 27 member states political and economic union mandate of protecting the interest and well-being of the little ones.

Ylva Johansson, the Home Affairs Commissioner of the European Union in an interview with Germany’s ‘Welt am Sonntag’ stated that internet service providers and social media firms had reported 22 million offences related to child sexual abuse in 2020 alone, from the 17 million reported in 2019, but added  that it was only a fraction of the real number.

“I will propose legislation in the coming months that will require companies to detect, report, and remove child sexual abuse,” Johansson was quoted as saying.

“A voluntary report will then no longer be sufficient.”

The current EU rules states that social media networks and mail and messenger services such as Facebook and Google have a choice whether or not to follow up on offences.

But Johansson believes the campaign against the abuse of minors should be better coordinated, while noting that a specialist European centre was needed to improve prevention, law enforcement and victim support.

The European Union,  a political and economic union of 27 member states located primarily in Europe has countries with a total area of 4,233,255.3 km² (1,634,469.0 sq mi). The policies of the EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services and capital within the internal market, enact legislation in justice and home affairs, while maintaining common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development.

With different jurisdictions developing their own stance towards mandatory reporting, and different definitions of what constitutes child abuse to remove children from their families or for prosecuting a criminal charge, it is gratifying that the EU with an estimated total population of 447 million would be actively in the full picture to cushion the negative vice of child abuse of all kinds.

With the global fight against child abuse gathering steam, it is hoped that the new legislation will bring tech- companies on board the fight against child abuse and sexual molestation of teens.