In July, the European Commission released a communication to the European Parliament, the European Council and to the EESC (The European Economic and Social Committee) explaining the new EU strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse. The Commission was alarmed by the Europol statistics showing that online child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation is exacerbated during the Covid-19 crisis.
They have noticed that the end-to-end encryption technology is being misused. Its purpose is to ensure privacy and security of communication, but offenders are using it to share images or videos of violated children. So, there is an immediate need to improve laws and adapt legislation with the high tech and the new forms of lawbreaking. The EU strategy will use eight initiatives, that will make possible the investigation, prevention, and the assistance of victims, which are described below.
1. Implement the current legislation
The first EU legal instrument that was instituted to set rules and sanctions in the area of children protection dates back in 2011. Although there is a satisfactory implementation of the directive there is still a lot to be done. To ensure law enforcement the Commission condemned all member states which had not acted properly.
2. Update the current legislation
The following realms need to be upgraded: regulations on privacy and electronic communications and e-commerce. The EU will take all feasible measures to facilitate private companies to detect inappropriate materials and remove them from website if the national legislation hinders the process.
3. Fill the gaps and evident best practices
To do so the Commission will conduct a study to understand the flaws of the relevant legislation.
4. National and EU level tools
Member states have their own responsible units that contribute to the combat of the child exploitation, but a beyond border unit is necessary. Some of the instruments that detect perpetrators and victims across borders are: Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), Interpol, Eurojust, Internal Security Fund (ISF-Police), Europol, etc. To help member states, adapt and develop knowledge on new tech tools Europol will set up the Innovation Hub and Lab.
5. Prevention programs
All stakeholders such as state agencies, media, NGOs, and researches should share their expertise and experiences together to strengthen this fight.
6. A unified centre
If a new European centre will be established than it would be perfect to coordinate states’ efforts and facilitate them enhance best practices.
7. Stimulate industry to protect children
Social media networks’ companies will be stimulated to detect and report child sexual abuse.
8. Global protection of children
Child abuse is a wild spread crime and as such broader means should be employed. The most famous initiative that tackles online abasement globally is the We PROTECT Global Alliance, which is located in the Netherlands and is comprised of 54 countries.