EU directive results in sharp drop in child abuse reports by internet firms

The ISPCC backed efforts by the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson to fix the problems caused by the enactment of the European ePrivacy Directive on December 21.

There needs to be a “concerted effort” to resolve the problems caused by new EU privacy laws which have led to a 50% reduction in the reporting of child abuse imagery by internet firms to law enforcement authorities.

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children also expressed concern after the Garda Commissioner said gardaí were seeing a “worrying” increase in the extortion of young people who had been duped in sharing intimate images online.