Brussels, 27.10.23
ECPAT International condemns the European Parliament’s recent announcement on online child safety laws. This ill-advised draft not only defies the will of the European public, but it also most alarmingly leaves our children perilously exposed to heightened risks of online sexual abuse and exploitation.
Amy Crocker, Head of Child Protection and Technology at ECPAT International, declares:
“Let’s be clear—in seeking compromise, the LIBE Committee has added to the insecurity of children online. The so-called compromise leaves our children unprotected and their abusers unaccountable purely by choosing one platform over another.”
Implications of the Compromise:
On Targeted Detection Order on Individual Suspicion:
On Dropping Voluntary Detection:
On Dropping E2EE:
On Dropping Grooming:
Public Opinion and the Need for Action
An overwhelming 95% of Europeans support laws to govern child safety online, while 91% understand the growing risks facing our children. These are not abstract statistics but a resounding public mandate for immediate, robust legislative action.
Amy Crocker urges: “We invite parents, caregivers, and citizens throughout Europe to join us in demanding more from our leaders. It is crucial that elected EU Parliamentarians in the LIBE Committee listen to their constituents and revise this legislation to protect our children adequately.”
“ECPAT International will continue to advocate for the highest standards of child protection, online and offline. These decisions are complex, but turning the clock back on safeguarding goes against everything that the EU stands for.”
For further information or media enquiries, please contact: Andrew Beaton – [email protected]