A web camera is seen in front of the displayed words "Child Pornography" in this illustration taken October 21, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -European Union member states have agreed a common position on draft online child protection legislation without forcing global tech companies to identify and remove online child sexual abuse.
The position, announced on Wednesday by the European Council, represents a victory for U.S. companies such as Alphabet's Google, Meta and others as well as for anti-surveillance activists who had argued the draft rules threaten privacy. It is part of a wider pushback against regulation led by U.S. President Donald Trump.
