During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the use of technologies for the processing of data for the purpose of combating online child sexual abuse: opening statements by Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), rapporteur and by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and by Christine ANDERSON (ID,DE), FEMM. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Use of technologies for the processing of data to combating online child sexual abuse: opening statements by Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), rapporteur, Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and by Christine ANDERSON (ID, DE)

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&amp;D, DE), Thank you very much. Sexual abuse is a serious violation of the human rights of our children. That's the same in the real world. But also when it's pictures that are placed online in both of these worlds, we have to improve. We have to improve in terms of potential prosecution of people involved in this, these online matters in addition to other criminal matters that are in place.

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), We also need to have a debate in terms of online surveillance and how much that is compatible with our fundamental freedoms. We have to be careful not to have too broad surveillance system that gets into the intimate details of people's communications and also our children who we want to protect.

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), There are some ways to trace this type of abuse online as well, but with the entry into force of the European Electronic Communications Code, this will be made impossible. So we are going to have a vote tomorrow on a derogation from the privacy rules that would allow this type of abuse to be detected.

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), So this legislation would allow a number of different technologies that would be used to help identify these cases of abuse, whether it's videos or pictures. You could in this way know the digital fingerprints of those involved. I think this is important with additional protection measures.

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), Now, what is a bit more controversial is the use of artificial intelligence to read messages to try and pick up traces of this type of material or cyber grouping. The commission has looked at these issues with regards to child abuse.

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), It will take a long time to find a good and sustainable solution when we are dealing with this type of communication on the Internet. The Commission, I think, needs to at least carry out an impact assessment to look at the consequences. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case and there has been a lot of pressure just to do something very quickly and to come to an agreement.

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), I think as we as legislators always have the responsibility to check all of our facts, to make sure this is all compliant with fundamental rights. I have already said the same number of times, and I'll say it again today, when it comes to political decisions, particularly with these very sensitive issues, we can be of different opinions. But that does not take away the responsibility to have a critical in-depth discussion on these issues.

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), I think what we've achieved here is a compromise. So tackling the issue of child abuse online, but also protection of people's private lives online. Now, this is not necessarily perfect, but this is a practical solution for the next three years, for this transition period.

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), So we can then continue to have certain voluntary measures in place that will help to track down this type of sexual abuse material pictures, for example, or cyber grooming. We have fought in parliament to try and improve this proposal and to bring it in line with existing standards.

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), We have added an additional protection measures, better information to users, and also a limit on the data being kept for 12 months. We have worked with European authorities and also service providers, so they work closely with national data protection services to look at these technologies.

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), Data protection and protection of confidentiality is part of our democracy. We need to protect people's communication for our children as well, particularly when we're talking about. Sexual abuse survivors, for example, talking to counsellors or doctors, so this, as I said, is a transitional solution for the next three years.

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), The Commission has said that before the summer break they will come up with a new, more sustainable framework to deal with this issue of online child sex abuse. Now we're being told this is going to be September or October, but I really hope there'll be a significantly improved proposal.

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), A long term solution has to have data protection guarantees. We really need targeted solutions when dealing with these private communications. Otherwise, this is going to this won't hold up before national or European courts.

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), And this time we hope the commission will put together a proper impact assessment. I know Johansson is working on this and von der Leyen is also interested in it. And we're on the right track now. Thank you very much

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Thank you, Mr. President. Honourable members, let me start with the voices of the victims. It's going to destroy my life. I want to die. I've already tried to commit suicide, please don't start again. These are the voices of teenage girls aged 14 to 17, tricked into sharing naked pictures and then blackmailed by a predator, he forced the girls to produce and send additional content.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Otherwise, he would publish the videos and pictures they already received widely on the Internet He texted in the chat. The Predator requested that the children recorded themselves engaging in sexual acts, which might have been painfully, physically painfully. You're going to be sore after he texted to.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, The report we are discussing today here today is very important because thanks to the agreement to parliament and the council reached in April, this kind of grooming can continue to be detected and stopped. Companies can continue to act against so-called no known child sexual abuse material.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Almost four million images and videos were reported in the European Union last year, but also towards material that is not yet so-called newly produced material. Last year, more than half a million new images and videos of children being raped and also against grooming around 1500 reports last year.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, The negotiations were difficult. But with the agreement you reached, colegislators have shown that it's possible to find the right balance, a balance that responds to European citizens concerns. I very much welcome the agreement, which end uncertainty for companies and say it's loud and clear.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Yes, you can continue to report child sexual abuse. Online reports used by police to rescue children all over Europe. Only last Friday, the ninth victim identification task for force, organised by Europol, the European Cybercrime Centre, identified six victims of child sexual abuse children that now can be rescued from harm to safety.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Saving these children was possible, thanks to your repository of 59 million images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Europol specialists selected footage of victims whose location and identity had not yet been established, and 41 victim identification specialists from across the world joined forces to identify as many victims of child sexual abuse as possible.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, I congratulate Europol for their work and the excellent police cooperation with member states and international partners. Worried about privacy rules, some Internet companies stopped voluntarily reporting of child sexual abuse material last December.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, In a few short months, reports dropped by 53 percent. Hundreds of cases go unnoticed every day, leaving children in the dark at the mercy of predators. It was vital to act quickly. And with this interim regulation, we have turned back on delite.

paragraph-24 Companies that provide email, chat or messaging services can continue lawful practise to voluntarily detect, remove and report online child sexual abuse. We also agreed on important safeguards, safeguards that guarantee privacy and the protection of personal data.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, All practises are subject to the GDPR and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Data process to detect child sexual abuse online is limited to what is necessary and is stored no longer than strictly necessary. Processing must be subject human oversight and if necessary, also to human review.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, These safeguards answer important concerns of the Parliament. On top of this, companies will need to consult national data protection authorities if they use anti government technologies or new technologies to detect material. This interim regulation ends uncertainty for companies it does not not not endanger to children.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, This is only a temporary solution to fix an acute emergency, we need a permanent answer to counter a persistent threat against children. Still, this year, I will propose new permanent EU rules, rules that will include detecting and reporting obligations for companies and will provide a solid legal basis for the provider's activities.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Because voluntary reporting is not enough. Right now, 95 percent of all reports come from one single service provider. It's time for all providers to live up to their responsibilities. To make sure that no one can use their services to spread videos or pictures of children being raped or worse, facilitate the rape of children.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, I also want to fulfil a request by the European Parliament to set up a European centre to prevent and counter child sexual abuse. A European centre to help companies and law enforcement to detect and report online child sexual abuse. To help police, to rescue children. To provide oversight and transparency and accountability.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, The Centre should also help prevention of child sexual abuse and support victims who suffer for many years. Even after the abuse is over, the vote tomorrow will be an important step to protect our children. I would like to thank Birgit Sippel and her shadows for working intensively with the Portuguese presidency and for making this possible.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Today we can look each other in the eye and say we have done good, but from tomorrow we must be determined to do better. This agreement inspires me with the confidence that we can. I look forward to continue working with you to keep our children safe. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (German), Christine ANDERSON (ID, DE)

Use of technologies for the processing of data to combating online child sexual abuse: opening statements by Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), rapporteur, Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and by Christine ANDERSON (ID, DE)

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