Google criticizes EU inaction on child safety technology

Google, alongside Meta, Microsoft, and Snap, has expressed disappointment with the European Union's failure to reach an agreement on maintaining child safety technology following the expiry of an ePrivacy derogation. This inaction risks leaving children globally less protected from online abuse material. The companies have voluntarily used hash-matching technology to detect and remove CSAM, a critical tool for disrupting harm. They emphasize that protecting children is a priority beyond legal requirements. The signatories urge EU institutions to urgently finalize a regulatory framework to ensure continued legal certainty and effective child protection measures online.