EU Member States Back Off Mandating Big Tech to Scan, Remove Child Porn Content
GeokHub
Contributing Writer
BRUSSELS, Nov 26, 2025 — European Union member states have agreed on a revised approach to legislation targeting online child sexual abuse, stepping back from proposals that would have forced major technology companies to automatically scan or remove such content.
Under the new position, digital platforms are required only to conduct risk assessments of their services and, based on the results, implement appropriate preventive measures. Enforcement responsibilities will remain with national authorities, and failure to comply could result in penalties. The plan also includes the creation of a central EU Centre on Child Sexual Abuse to coordinate cross-border efforts and support victims.
This represents a significant change from earlier drafts that would have mandated tech platforms to detect and report known and new instances of child sexual abuse material. Privacy advocates and tech firms had criticized the previous proposals, warning they could lead to mass surveillance and compromise user privacy.
