Extending Online Child‑Abuse‑Detection Rules Until 2028

Proposal for a Regulation to extend the temporary rules that let certain online services help fight child sexual abuse

• What it does
  The Regulation (EU) 2021/1232, which gives limited permission to some internet service providers to use special tools to detect and report child‑sexual‑abuse content, will now stay in force until 3 April 2028 instead of ending on 3 April 2026.
  No other part of the Regulation is changed.

• Why it is needed
  • The temporary rules were meant to bridge the gap until a permanent EU law on child‑sexual‑abuse is adopted.
  • Negotiations for that long‑term law are still unfinished, and the current temporary rules are set to expire in 2026.
  • Extending them gives providers time to keep working voluntarily while the final law is being agreed.

• Legal basis
  • Article 16 and Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
  • The extension is a short‑term, targeted amendment, so it is fully compatible with EU law.

• Subsidiarity and proportionality
  • The EU can act only when Member States cannot achieve the goal alone.
  • The extension is limited to the minimum time needed for the long‑term law to be adopted, so it is proportionate.

• Other policy links
  • Supports the EU Strategy for a More Effective Fight Against Child Sexual Abuse, the Strategy for a Better Internet for Children, and the Digital Services Act.
  • It does not change the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the ePrivacy Directive; those rules still apply.

• Fundamental rights
  • The amendment respects privacy, data protection, and the best interests of children, as set out in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

• Budget
  • No impact on the EU budget.

• Implementation
  • The Regulation will enter into force the day after it is published in the Official Journal.
  • It is directly applicable in all Member States.

• Key dates
  • Draft: 19 December 2025 (COM(2025) 797 final).
  • Current temporary rules: 14 July 2021 (Regulation 2021/1232).
  • Extension of current rules: 29 April 2024 (Regulation 2024/1307).
  • New end date: 3 April 2028.