The European Union (EU) Commission on Tuesday, the 6th of February proposed tougher criminal rules to fight child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, including restrictions on live streaming of pornography and preventing the inclusion of abusive material in deepfakes or other AI-generated content, reports Reuters.
“Sexual abuse of children is a heinous crime that has evolved significantly in recent years,” the commission said.
The Commission reports that the increase in children’s online activity and the rapid development of technology have created new opportunities for abuse. In the EU, 1.5 million reports of child sexual abuse were received in 2022,
indicating a heightened and tangible threat.
The Commission’s proposed rules aim to update and extend the 2011 rules, with changes to include live streaming and AI-generated content in the definition of offences.
In addition, the deadline for victims to report abuse will be extended and the right to financial compensation will be granted. Member States will also be called upon to improve preventive measures, such as raising children’s awareness of online risks.
The European Parliament and Member States must agree before the proposal can enter into force.
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