Overview
- The temporary EU waiver permitting platforms to scan private messages for child sexual abuse material expires on April 3.
- BKA chief Holger Münch says expiry will cause a drastic fall in actionable tips to investigators, echoing declines seen after the 2021 e-Privacy rules.
- The current framework lets providers voluntarily scan message histories, focusing on images and videos, and forward reports to authorities.
- The European Parliament favors limiting detection to identified suspects and known content, a model the BKA deems ineffective because unknown files and cybergrooming often reveal ongoing abuse.
- Several EU governments prefer voluntary checks by apps over mandatory scanning, while Hesse’s premier Boris Rhein urges a swift, permanent EU solution prioritizing victim protection.