On August 6, the chief executives of four of Europe’s largest telecom operators urged in a letter the European Union (EU) to create a harmonized legal framework allowing internet providers to block websites hosting confirmed child sexual abuse materials in EU countries, or CSAM Europe, while the material awaits removal at its source, according to Politico.
The letter, sent to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and European Council President Antonio Costa, the CEOs of Vodafone, Orange, Telenor, and BT said the “children need protection now, not in several years’ time.”
The letter was signed by Vodafone Group CEO Margherita Della Valle, Orange Group CEO Christel Heydemann, Telenor Group CEO Benedicte Schilbred Fasmer, and BT Group CEO Allison Kirkby.
Telcos Want Faster Digital Action
The EU telecom executives’ coalition is asking the EU for two measures, one being administrative orders that would allow internet providers to block confirmed illegal content across the bloc while it remains hosted elsewhere.
The other measure is the establishment of a new legal authority to maintain a shared database of CSAM Europe indicators for enforcement purposes, handled by the watchdog.
The telecom executives said inconsistent national laws across EU member states leave telcos in legal uncertainty when trying to block domains and URLs that trusted hotlines have already confirmed as hosting CSAM Europe content, even though removing the material at its original source remains the ultimate goal.
Their warning adds pressure to the fight against child sexual abuse online, where governments and network operators are trying to act faster without weakening privacy protections.
The executives want EU-wide orders allowing providers to block confirmed illegal websites while hosts keep them online. They say a stronger CSAM Europe system would give providers clearer authority across borders.
They also want an EU body to keep a database of indicators linked to confirmed illegal material. Such a system could help authorities and providers coordinate action against online child sexual abuse.
Companies say national rules remain uneven.
“We already act where the law allows but the position is varied and uncertain in practice,” the telecom CEOs expressed in their letter. The EU ePrivacy directive matters because privacy rules affect how communications services process data.
A website can be blocked quickly in one country but face delays elsewhere. Those barriers must be removed urgently, the executives said.
Their CSAM Europe proposal focuses on blocking confirmed illegal websites rather than scanning private conversations. The Internet Watch Foundation reported that 63% of child sexual abuse webpages it identified last year were hosted on EU servers.
According to Telecom leaders, Europe should show global leadership in tackling child sexual abuse online.
AI Raises New Child-Safety Questions
AI is making the problem harder. On June 2, in Strasbourg, Council of Europe committees said existing conventions apply to AI-generated or altered material, adding urgency to the CSAM regulation EU debate.
Officials discussed AI-generated and altered images of real children. They warned these tools can increase offending and complicate investigations.
For readers following EU child sexual abuse regulation news, AI is central to policy today.
The committees raised concerns about grooming, extortion, and the normalization of sexual abuse. They called for faster removal systems, specialist training and closer cooperation with technology companies to tackle online child sexual abuse.
Privacy remains central. The EU has debated whether services should scan private or encrypted messages for abusive material.
Rights groups warn about surveillance, while the EU ePrivacy directive remains part of the legal background. Telecom operators want a narrower approach.
They want confirmed illegal websites blocked at network level instead of private chats routinely scanned. Questions remain about who confirms illegality and how mistakes are corrected under ePrivacy directive EU rules.
The technology challenge includes how shared databases, reporting systems, and blocking tools are designed. Policymakers must limit unnecessary data collection while allowing enforcement, keeping the EU ePrivacy directive tied to future measures.
For telecom companies, legal certainty is essential. Providers want permission to act on confirmed illegal content.
A coordinated CSAM Europe framework could reduce delays and make enforcement more consistent across the EU. The Council of Europe called for international cooperation.
Investigators need technical skills to identify altered images, preserve evidence, and trace AI-made material online. Therefore, as AI tools spread, Europe’s response will depend on technology, from identification to blocking and investigations.
The debate over CSAM Europe centers around protecting children online while preserving privacy.
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