UN human rights experts urged the EU to close legal gaps to better protect children from online sexual abuse. In a statement, the UN special rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children expressed concern over the lack of legislation within the EU to oblige technology companies to detect and report online child sexual abuse. She added that without  any agreement on temporary legislation that allows for the continued use of technical tools by technology companies to detect and prevent child abuse online,  children will continue to remain vulnerable and  face abuse online. 

The UN special rapporteur on the right to privacy urged EU member states to review their existing legal frameworks and galvanise voluntary action by companies to lawfully and proportionately detect online child sexual abuse.

These calls for action come in the wake of a recent law enforcement survey conducted by NetClean that revealed that there has been a global increase in child sexual abuse online during the COVID-19 pandemic.