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Platforms face EU legal ‘gray zone’ to continue scanning for child abuse content

By Júlia Tar ( April 24, 2026, 13:10 GMT | Comment) -- Google, Meta Platforms, Microsoft and Snap are facing an increased risk of legal challenges for continuing to scan private communications for online child sexual abuse material, or CSAM, in the EU after regulators failed to extend the legislative basis for such activity. The expiry of the EU’s ePrivacy derogation has left digital companies in a legal “gray area” as they weigh child protection and privacy rights, lawyers say. Google, Meta Platforms, Microsoft and Snap are facing an increased risk of legal challenges for continuing to scan private communications for online child sexual abuse material, or CSAM, in the EU after regulators failed to extend the legal basis for such activity....

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