In the context of the ongoing negotiations on the CSAM Regulation, several organisations have signed a joint letter calling on the EU Member States to continue allowing the voluntary detection of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) as proposed by the Polish Council Presidency. The letter emphasises the need for a legal foundation for voluntary measures to maintain existing best practices in detection and reporting mechanisms.
The signatories, which include eco – Association of the Internet Industry and EuroISPA, the European ISP industry, welcome the Polish Council Presidency’s proposal to create a permanent legal framework for providers of number-independent interpersonal communications service (NI-ICS). These providers should continue to be allowed to detect CSAM content on a voluntary basis, rather than having separate legal mandates for communication and hosting service providers to conduct searches under government orders.
Without such a regulation, proven measures could no longer be used, leading to a decline in actionable tips for law enforcement agencies. The signatories therefore appeal for the relevant Article 4a to be retained in the ongoing legislative process.
eco had previously raised concerns about a possible obligation for upload moderation and chat control*. The association particularly criticises the danger to the integrity of encryption and the compatibility with EU fundamental rights.
You can now read the entire joint letter here.
Here you will find earlier statements from eco on the CSAM Regulation:
