Government to continue push for social media firms to scan encrypted messages for child abuse images

The secure communications include WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal and Facebook Messenger among others. File picture: Pexels

The Irish Government is to continue pushing for agreement among EU member states for a directive obliging social media firms to scan their platforms, including encrypted communications, for child sex abuse imagery.

The proposal — strongly opposed by privacy groups — has struggled to get agreement among all member states since it was proposed two-and-a-half years ago.