Home / Technology / EU Child Protection Law Shifts Burden to Tech Firms
EU Child Protection Law Shifts Burden to Tech Firms
26 Nov, 2025
Summary
- EU member states agreed on online child protection, avoiding mandatory CSAM removal.
- Tech companies will assess and mitigate risks, rather than being forced to identify CSAM.
- A new EU Center on Child Sexual Abuse will support countries and victims.
European Union member states have established a common position on legislation aimed at protecting children online. This agreement notably diverges from previous proposals by not mandating global tech companies to actively identify and remove child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).
The updated legislation requires major tech platforms to conduct risk assessments of their services and implement appropriate preventative measures. Oversight and enforcement will fall to individual national authorities within the EU, rather than a centralized EU body.
While the agreement avoids mandates for scanning encrypted communications, it does establish an EU Center on Child Sexual Abuse. This center is intended to bolster national compliance efforts and provide support to victims. The Council's position will now proceed to negotiations with the European Parliament.
