![Combating child sexual abuse online [EU Legislation in Progress]](https://i0.wp.com/epthinktank.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/EPRS-Briefing-738224-Combating-child-sexual-abuse-online-FINAL.png?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
Written by Mar Negreiro (4th edition, updated on 20.01.2026).
Online child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) and grooming practices (manipulation aimed at exploiting and abusing people), now increasingly targeting younger children, have been proliferating at an alarming rate. In 2024, more than 20.5 million reports of suspected online child sexual abuse materials were detected. Reports related to AI-generated CSAM saw a 1 325 % increase, rising from 4 700 in 2023 to 67 000 in 2024. Most activities detected were hosted in Europe.
In response to this situation, on 11 May 2022 the European Commission adopted a proposal for long-term rules to prevent and combat child abuse. The Commission proposal would require interpersonal communication services, such as webmail messaging services and internet telephony, as well as others, to proactively detect online CSAM materials and activities involving child grooming. However, this poses many concerns regarding privacy, security and law enforcement investigations. The proposal also provides for the establishment of an EU centre to support the implementation and supervision of the new rules.
In the European Parliament, the file has been assigned to the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), which adopted its report in 2023, together with a decision to enter interinstitutional negotiations. On 26 November 2025, the Council adopted a common position under the Danish Presidency. Trilogues started on 9 December 2025.
Versions
- January 2026: Combating child sexual abuse online(4th edition)
| Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse |
| Committee responsible: | Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) | COM(2022) 209 11.5.2022 |
| Rapporteur: | Javier Zarzalejos (EPP, Spain) | 2022/0155(COD) |
| Shadow rapporteurs: | Alex Agius Saliba (S&D, Malta) António Tanger Correa (PfE, Portugal) Jadwiga Wisniewska (ECR, Poland) Hilde Vautmans (Renew, Belgium) Markéta Gregorova (Greens/EFA, Czechia) Isabel Serra Sanchez (The Left, Spain) Ewa Zajaczkowska-Hernik (ESN, Poland) | Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) |
| Next steps expected: Trilogue negotiations |
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