Overview
- The Danish EU Council Presidency withdrew its plan to require platforms to scan private messages for child sexual abuse material.
- Member states will now pursue a compromise that permits detection only on a voluntary basis by online services.
- Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said the move aims to avoid losing the existing reporting instrument as the current rules expire in April 2026.
- Germany opposed blanket scanning, with Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig stating her government would not back the measure.
- Domestic divisions in Denmark also influenced the reversal, as Moderaterne distanced itself from the Social Democrats' position.