MEPs in the civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee (LIBE) in the European Parliament have voted on new rules to combat child sexual abuse online.

Following the Commission's proposal for a Regulation laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse in 2022, political groups have reached a compromise that would set up a legal framework to remove and stop the dissemination of child sexual abuse material online, while safeguarding fundamental rights and keeping end-to-end encryption of communications protected.

The result of the vote was 51 for, one abstention and two against. The European Parliament is expected to endorse the LIBE committee’s position during next week's plenary. When the Council reaches a common position, inter-institutional negotiations can then begin.

Representing the S&D Group in the negotiations, Paul Tang MEP said:

“Today's vote in the European Parliament is an important step forward in making the online world safer for children. The digital playground as it stands is not safe. Children are exposed to risks and dangers that can cause deep and lasting damage. 

“In the European Parliament, we have managed to strike a balance between protecting fundamental rights and protecting children by stopping grooming and dissemination of child sexual abuse material. We urge national governments to look at our example as a way forward to unblock negotiations in the Council.”