Europe wants tougher laws so that chat apps can scan users’ messages to prevent child abuse. The European Commission has introduced this as a new law to thwart the risks posed by social media platforms.
If the bill is passed in the coming weeks, app platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram will be forced to detect, report and remove child sexual abuse material. Such measures would severely disrupt the encryption standards imposed by various platforms. Asking these platforms to identify content based on their nature is a gray area that was hotly debated when Apple announced a similar program for iPhone users.
“Providers will need to assess and reduce the risk of abuse of their services and the measures taken must be commensurate with that risk and subject to robust conditions and safeguards.”
The European Commission wants to ensure that data is not passed on to law enforcement agencies unless deemed necessary. But the whole possibility of breaking encryption to make this work is undoubtedly a concern for privacy experts.
The commission, in its pitch for the law, said the new rules would help protect children from further abuse, prevent content from getting online again and bring criminals to justice.
The EU body also highlighted its reasons for pursuing such a decision. It reported that 85 million photos and videos depicting child sexual abuse were reported worldwide in 2021. And the Internet Watch Foundation reported a 64 percent increase in confirmed reports of child sexual abuse last year.
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The Commission is of the view that forums failing to provide adequate protection to children have forced its hands. The EU called for “clear rules” with “strong terms and safeguards” to effectively address the abuse of online services for the purposes of child sexual abuse.
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Given that Apple was forced to scale back its own scanning program following the backlash, it remains to be seen whether the EU reacts in a similar way or moves forward with its plans.
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