It was quiet for almost a year around a controversial European bill against online child abuse. But current EU chairman Denmark, a strong supporter of the law, has put it back on the agenda. Opponents are afraid that the law will now come.
After earlier fruitless attempts by Belgium and Hungary, among others, Denmark is now trying to cross the line of thwarting EU countries. There is a chance that the Denmark will succeed this time.
Germany has a new government since the beginning of this year, which means that a different political wind is blowing in that country. As a result, the German opposition against the European bill against online child abuse is opposed to loose screws. As a result, there is a chance that the Council of the European Union will take the proposal in October.
Various EU member states, including the Netherlands, think the bill that is on the table is far too far. They are very concerned about, among other things, the privacy of Europeans. The transverse countries have been a so -called blocking minority for over three years, a small group that is still against.
In order to cross the Germans, Denmark suggests the approach to digital children’s locks (also called Grooming) from the legal text for the time being. To detect grooming, the content of messages must also be scanned in addition to photos and videos. That happens, for example, on texts such as “Are you alone at home?” Or “Are your parents at home?” Germany (and the Netherlands) thought that was going too far.
If Germany agrees to the Danish compromise, then there may be sufficient support for the bill. The negotiations on the bill will then enter the next phase.
The Netherlands is against the bill
The Netherlands has been against the European bill since the beginning. If the law is passed, for example, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok must set up their services in such a way that spreading images of child abuse is impossible. If a company does not take measures or if those measures do not work, Brussels can impose a so -called detection warrant.
Companies that are imposed on a detection warrant must check all photos and videos that you send for images of child abuse. If the company finds suspicious images, it must then report this to Brussels.
“If you are suspected of a crime, a judiciary may decide to listen to your telephone and internet traffic,” says Rejo Zenger of privacy organization Bits of Freedom. “But if this law comes, for example, WhatsApp can be forced to watch with all the messages that everyone sends. So also of people who are not suspected of anything at all.”
Doubt whether the law will ever come
Among other things, Bits of Freedom and Offlimits, an expertise center on online child abuse, would rather see that the law goes completely off the table. “There has been a bullet policy for years about the controversial details of the bill, while the approach to the problem cannot wait,” says Robbert Hoving of Offlimits.
Hoving considers the chance that the law will never come on the basis of the current proposal. That is because the European Parliament is also very critical about the bill. It even came up with an alternative proposal. As a result, Hoving’s eyes are now wasting an unnecessary amount of time.
Dutch approach to online child abuse
In the Netherlands, online child abuse is already being tackled in different ways. There is a hotline for images with child abuse, which is authorized to check the images and to register in a global database.
In addition, there is a prevention center for people who view images of child abuse. There is also an aid organization for abuse victims.
According to Hoving, that Dutch approach to online child abuse is a good example, but does not lead to the mass surveillance of all Europeans created by the European bill. According to him, the Dutch approach and various other European initiatives could therefore form a basis for a new and other European bill.
Abuse material shared under the radar via chatapps
According to Defense for Children, encrypted chatapps, such as Telegram and WhatsApp, ensure that the spread of child abuse often remains under the radar. While these are the places where, according to that foundation, a lot of abuse material is shared.
That is why Defense for Children is behind the European bill. Messages can then be checked before sending. The organization sees the law a good addition to the existing approach to online child abuse.
“Companies such as Google, Microsoft and Facebook are already checking message traffic and file uploads voluntarily for the presence of abuse images,” says Mylène Tabernal of Defense for Children. But the rules for voluntary detection do not work sufficiently. According to the foundation, European legislation would better define the borders than is currently the case.
It has bone almost a year of silence surrounding a controversial European Bill Against Online Child Abuse. However, Current EU President Denmark, A Strong Supporter of the Law, has Put It Back On The Agenda. Opponents Fear That the Law Will Still Be Passed.
After Previous Unsuccessful Attempts by Belgium and Hungary, Among Others, Denmark is now trying to persuade Dissing EU Countries. There is a Chance That Denmark Will Succed This Time.
Germany Has had A New Government Since the Beginning of this Year, result in a differentent political climate in that country. As a result, German opposition to the European Bill Against Online Child ABuse is Shaky. This raises the possibility that the Council of the European Union will adopt the proposal as early as October.
Several EU Member States, Including The Netherlands, Believe that the Bill on the Table Goes Too Far. They have Major Concerns About, Among Other Things, The Privacy of Europeans. For More Than Three Years, The Dissing Countries Have Formed A So-Called Blocking Minority , A Small Group That Is Still Oppose.
To persuade the Germans, Denmark Proposes to Temporarily Remove the Approach to Digital Child Luring (also called Grooming) from the Bill. To Detect Grooming, in Addition to Photos and Videos, The Content of Messages must also be scanned. This Happens, For Example, On Texts Such As “Are You Home Alone?” or “are your parents home?”. Germany (and also the Netherlands) Thought that was going too far.
If Germany agrees to the Danish Compromise, there may be sufficient support for the bill. The Negotiations on the Bill Will Then Enter the Next Phase.
The Netherlands is Against the Bill
The Netherlands Has Been Against the European Bill From the Start. If the law is adopted, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok, For Example, Must Design Their Services in Such A Way That The Distribution of Images Of Child Abuse is impossible. If a company does not take measures or if those measures do not work, brussels can impose a so-called detection order.
Companies that are subject to a detection order must check all photos and videos you send for images of child abuse. If the company finds suspicious images, it must then report this to brussels.
“If you are suspended of a crime, a public prosecutor can decide to tap your telephone and internet traffic,” Says rejo zenger from privacy organization bits of freedom. “But if this law comes into effect, WhatsApp, For Example, Can Be Forced to Monitor All Messages That Everyone Sends. Even from People who are not suspended of anything.”
Doubt Whether the Law Will Ever Come
Bits of Freedom and offlimits, an expertise center for online child abuse, would prefer the law be scrapped altogether. “There Has Been Haggling for Years about the controversial details of the Bill, While Tackling the Problem Cannot Wait,” Says Robbert Hoving from Offlimits.
Hoving Considers It Likely That Law Will Never Come Based On The Current Proposal. This is because the European Parliament is also Very Critical of the Bill. It even came up with an alternative proposal. As a result, in Hoving’s view, a lot of time is now bee wasted unnecessarily.
Dutch Approach to Online Child Abuse
In The Netherlands, Online Child Abuse, Already Being is Tackled in Various Ways. There is a reporting point for images of child abuse, which is authorized to check the images and register them in a global database.
There is also a prevention center for people who view images of child abuse. There is also a Support Organization for Abuse Victims.
Accordance to hoving, the Dutch approach to online child abuse is a good example, but does not lead to the mass surveillance of all Europeans that arises from the European Bill. The Dutch Approach and Various Other European Initiatives Could Therefore Form The Basic for a New and Different European Bill, Accordination to Him.
Abuse Material Shared Under the Radar via Chat Apps
Encrypted chat apps, Such as telegram and Whatsapp, Ensure That the Distribution of Child Abuse of Remains Under The Radar, Accordance to Defense for Children. While those are precisely the places where, accordance to that foundation, a lot of abuse material is shared.
That is why defense for children supports the European Bill. Messages can then be checked before they are sent. The Organization Sees The Law as A Good Addition to the Already Existing Approach to Online Child ABUSE.
“Companies Such as Google, Microsoft and Facebook are Already Voluntarily Checking Message Traffic and File Uploads for the Presence of Abuse Images,” Says Mylène Tabernal from Defense for Children. But the rules for Voluntary Detection do not work sufficiently. Accordance to the foundation, European legislation would define the boundaries better than it does now.