EU countries, lawmakers reach deal to tackle online child sexual abuse

FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed Facebook logo is seen in front of the logo of the European Union in this picture illustration made in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina on May 15, 2015. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU countries and EU lawmakers agreed late Thursday evening to allow Facebook and Microsoft to scan and remove online child sexual abuse, potentially paving the way for a deal in the coming months on privacy rules targeting online platforms.

The provisional agreement is valid for three years. The European Commission will propose broader legislation with detailed safeguards to fight child sexual abuse online and offline later this year to replace the interim rules.