Chat control, EU green light in the fight against child abuse: Italy abstains

In the vote (without debate) on the text presented by the Presidency for the negotiating mandate, Italy - according to informed sources - abstained, reaffirming its commitment to finding a balance between combating Csam and protecting other constitutionally guaranteed personal rights and asking the Danish Presidency to give adequate space for discussion.

Italy, the same sources explain, agrees with the need to strengthen tools to combat online sexual abuse, but does not accept forms of massive monitoring of chats and personal data, neither by the State nor by private individuals.

In the position adopted, the obligation for messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to also scan private communications for child pornography (Csam), a mechanism known as 'chat control', disappears.

Instead, the existing temporary measure allowing companies to voluntarily analyse their services for Csams is made permanent. In addition, a clause is included that invites the EU Commission to assess the necessity and feasibility of including identification obligations in the future.

The Council's mandate for inter-institutional negotiations in the so-called trialogue includes the obligation for digital companies to prevent the dissemination of child pornography and child grooming. Competent national authorities will have the power to force companies to remove and block access to content or, in the case of search engines, to remove search results. The mandate also establishes the EU Child Sexual Abuse Centre to support member states and online service providers in implementing the law.