In Europe, many online technology platforms work to automatically detect previously identified (known) child sexual abuse material (CSAM) hosted on their services using hash fingerprint technologies like PhotoDNA. This allows them to detect data on their services for CSA material without breaching their customers' privacy rights.

After completing an exhaustive negotiation process the interim derogation legislation to enable voluntary automated detection by industry of child sexual abuse material has been published and came into effect on the 2nd of August 2021. These new regulations relate to the 2002/58/EC directive of the European Parliament (e-Privacy directive).

"This was a momentous and vital step towards making the vision of an internet free of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) material online a reality." - Denton Howard, Executive Director, INHOPE

This change was required because the original e-Privacy directive wording potentially blocked industry from trying to automatically detect previously identified (known) child sexual abuse material hosted on their services using hash fingerprint technologies like PhotoDNA. With this change, there is now no legal e-Privacy obstacle in regard to automated detection of CSAM in Europe.

INHOPE and its member hotlines welcome these updated regulations as they bring us one step closer to our vision of an internet free of CSAM a reality.