The European Commission has been accused of undermining the fight against online child abuse by introducing new laws which will protect the privacy of paedophiles.
Charities say new EU regulations would stop tech firms searching out child abuse images on their platforms and reporting them to police because it would be a potential breach of paedophiles' privacy.
Unlike the new laws on data, there are no exemptions in the proposed EU regulations (European Privacy Regulations (EPR)) that would allow investigators to override the rights of paedophiles to privacy to protect children from abuse.
The British government is understood to have raised its concerns with the EC that “personal rights should not obstruct companies from protecting children who use social media platforms.”
A source said Sajid Javid, the home secretary, fully supported companies having the power to detect and act upon “abhorrent” images and grooming for child sexual abuse.
“We have taken note of the EU’s proposal for the introduction of European Privacy Regulation (EPR) and are discussing it with EU member states,” said a government spokesperson.
John Carr, secretary of the Children’s Charities' Coalition on Internet Safety, which represents 11 of the biggest charities including Barnardo's and the NSPCC, wrote last week to the EC, demanding they amend the regulations so investigators can continue to report and remove indecent images.
Mr Carr said: "There ought to be no room for doubt or ambiguity on a matter of such fundamental importance to the protection of children. And yet there is."
Javed Khan, chief executive of Barnardo’s, Britain’s biggest charity, said: “Online child abuse is appalling. Any regulation change should not restrict the ability of tech companies and law enforcement to work together to stop child abuse online.
“We would urge the EC to make a simple change to the new e-privacy regulation so that all EU countries can continue to fight this horrific crime effectively.”
Microsoft technology known as PhotoDNA has enabled tech giants like Facebook, Twitter and Google to track down millions of illegal child abuse images on their platforms.
It is estimated more than 20m such images will have been located by US watchdogs and the Internet Watch Foundation in the UK by the end of this year and removed through the use of PhotoDNA, which "fingerprints" any illegal image so copies of it can be traced across the internet.
Under new data laws - the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - there are three exemptions to a users' right to privacy which allow tech firms to seize and report indecent images.
These are where it is of vital importance to protect the interests of an individual, to comply with a legal obligation or to perform a task that is carried out in the public interest.
The European Privacy Regulations (EPR), however, have no such exemptions. "Article 5 of the EPR prohibits the processing of data unless consent is given by the end user [ie the paedophile]," said a charity legal expert. "The worry is that if consent is the only exemption to the prohibition on processing data, then child sexual abuse offenders are unlikely to give their consent.
"The purpose of the regulations are to stop the abuse and misuse of people's data and privacy but the consequence is it potentially undermines what is being done to tackle child sexual abuse online.”
It is understood a number of other European countries have raised concerns in an attempt to force through an alternative option aligning the privacy laws with the GDPR exemptions.
Source.
Would be interesting to find out who in the European Commission has been responsible for this draft.
@Michael84 @EricKaliberhall @mad_as_hell @TrishaUK @letsdothis2
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TrishaUK ago
Of course they are its the EU! All they care about is getting their supply and protecting their kind. ANYTHING we believe in think of the opposite and these evil sickos are doing/protecting it......they need to be OUT OF POWER IMMEDIATELY! People should be looking into these EU leaders before their social medias are wiped from the internet.
ArtistiqueJewelry ago
You are So Right TrishaUK!
I had a Horrible time finding info on Daniel Baal, but then again, figured his name said it All!
I've also had a great deal of attackers and distracters while and after I put up the two part series linking Ralph Blasey's company, his CEO and her husband's company. . .life long friends with Blasey, to people connected with fall of Lehman brothers (some reorganization) , rise of Blackstone, weakening of middle class America and Germany . . .and Baal's band profited nicely!
Pretty bizarre, then again. . .there are No Coincidences!
carmencita ago
I have to look closer at this, but it is already making me sick. Disgusting doesn't even cut it. They are dragging their feet with Brexit and May is doing her utmost to hold it off. I told my husband when they were first trying to push through the EU that I hated it and it would only come to no good. Some thought I was crazy. Don't be afraid of progress they said. Yeah, look what a mess we have. It's always Our Children that suffer. We make allowances for the Freedom of Others, but it seems that lately we are forgetting Our Children.
ArtistiqueJewelry ago
That's what they also signal it with and pretend there is something wrong with Freedom Loving people carmencita!
The old progressivism and don't be afraid of change.
Well, if that change is weakening certain citizens and rights. . .No Thank You!
carmencita ago
I thought I was a Progressive but not in their sense of the word. I wanted everyone to be able to have health care through their work like we used to, I wanted fairness for all, not all this crap they are offering when you look under their rock. They lied to us about what it really was. Now I find it is pushing for changing the teaching of Our Children and giving rights to pedophiles. Among other normalization propaganda they are now pushing. I am all for change it it means to go back to Good Values and Our Freedoms that they want to take away. I am into Our Freedoms Not Theirs.
ArtistiqueJewelry ago
Smart girl! I have found this is the case with many others who felt they simply stood for values to help others.
Sadly, the progressives in charge. . . actually have Far more to their agenda they keep concealed, clearly for good reason.
People like you are too smart to fall for their ploys, see through their diabolical, controlling actions and go the other way. ..towards Freedom!
Keep up the Great Work!
carmencita ago
I really have tried to tell others but they think I have gone completely bat crap crazy. They think I am nuts and don't know what happened to me. Little do they know what is down the road for them. What worries me now, is how are we going to stop their Freight Train before it runs us all over.
ArtistiqueJewelry ago
I love you carmencita! You sound like me!
I have said very similar words as even the people who Feel they are in the Know and awake, still don't Really know.
You're right. . .it is a Freight Train and very scary.
Don't worry, everyone thinks I'm nuts, lost most family have about zero friends except for some who are Genuine Patriots in the Awake crowd on different platforms.
I still believe there are more of us than we know. They try to keep them hidden from us.
Almost daily we find posers who are pretending to be on the side of good, but are either fooled by the posers or possibly have been one of them all along.
They end up aiding and abetting them in leading many astray through diabolical distractions.
Generally we can spot them by their actions and sense of entitlement. Eventually they give themselves away when they elevate their selfish agenda above the good of the Patriots and The Plan.
carmencita ago
Good to hear your family things your nuts too. I am on the fence feeling sorry for them or waiting to say I told you so! They say, What sites are you on? Famous last words. Magically their sites are always the right ones. What scares me is the water rationing coming. They have already let led stay in the water and are not fixing it. This ruins the brains of Our Children. So Sad.
ArtistiqueJewelry ago
It really is sad!
We try to get water, I now it's better than the city source, but not certain what contaminates are still in the bottled.
I myself try to drink as much distilled as possible.
All very sad. Hard when we are constantly like John crying in the wilderness trying to show people the truth.
Doesn't help we are constantly kicked down even by many "claiming" to be on the side of good.
I know it's not supposed to be a picnic. Hoping more Will Listen.