Debate: Use of technologies for the processing of data for the purpose of combating online child sexual abuse
Date: MONDAY, 5 JULY 2021
Speaker: Ylva Johansson
Language: EN

The report we are discussing here today is very important because thanks to the agreement that Parliament and the Council reached in April, this kind of grooming can continue to be detected and stopped. Companies can continue to act against so-called known child sexual abuse material – almost four million images and videos were reported in the European Union last year – but also towards material that is not yet known about, so-called ‘newly produced’ material. Last year, there were more than half a million new images and videos of children being raped. Action can also be taken against grooming around – 1 500 reports last year.  The negotiations were difficult, but with the agreement you reached, co—legislators have shown that it’s possible to find the right balance, a balance that responds to European citizens’ concerns. I very much welcome the agreement, which ends uncertainty for companies and say it loud and clear: yes, you can continue to report child sexual abuse online.  Reports are used by police to rescue children all over Europe. Only last Friday, the ninth Victim Identification Taskforce organised by Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre identified six victims of child sexual abuse, children that can now be rescued from harm to safety. Saving these children was possible thanks to Europol’s repository of 59 million images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Europol specialists selected footage of victims whose location and identity had not yet been established, and 41 victim identification specialists from across the world joined forces to identify as many victims of child sexual abuse as possible. I congratulate Europol on their work and the excellent police cooperation with Member States and international partners. Worried about privacy rules, some internet companies stopped voluntarily reporting on child sexual abuse material last December. In a few short months, reports dropped by 53%. Hundreds of cases go unnoticed every day, leaving children in the dark at the mercy of predators. It was vital to act quickly and with this interim regulation we have turned the light back on. Companies that provide email, chat or messaging services can continue lawful practice to voluntarily detect, remove and report online child sexual abuse.  We also agreed on important safeguards, safeguards that guarantee privacy and the protection of personal data. All practices are subject to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Data processed to detect child sexual abuse online is limited to what is necessary and is stored no longer than strictly necessary. Processing must be subject to human oversight and, if necessary, also to human review. These safeguards answer important concerns of Parliament. On top of these, companies will need to consult national data protection authorities if they use anti-grooming technologies or new technologies to detect material.  This interim regulation ends uncertainty for companies. It does not end the danger to children. This is only a temporary solution to fix an acute emergency. We need a permanent answer to counter a persistent threat against children. Still this year I will propose new permanent EU rules, rules that will include detecting and reporting obligations for companies and will provide a solid legal basis for the providers’ activities. Because voluntary reporting is not enough. Right now 95% of all reports come from one single service provider. It’s time for all providers to live up to their responsibilities, to make sure that no one can use their services to spread videos or pictures of children being raped or worse, facilitate the rape of children.  I also want to fulfil a request by the European Parliament to set up a European centre to prevent and counter child sexual abuse, a European centre to help companies and law enforcement to detect and report online child sexual abuse, to help police to rescue children, to provide oversight and transparency and accountability. The centre should also help prevent child sexual abuse and support victims who suffer for many years, even after the abuse is over.  The vote tomorrow will be an important step to protect our children. I would like to thank Birgit Sippel and her shadows for working intensively with the Portuguese Presidency and for making this possible. Today we can look each other in the eye and say we have done well, but from tomorrow we must be determined to do better. This agreement inspires me with the confidence that we can. I look forward to continue working with you to keep our children safe.