Extended regulation prohibits use of scanning tools, says Facebook
Child protection charities have responded with dismay to the news that Facebook has switched off its child abuse detection tools in response to new EU rules, according to the BBC website. The rules update privacy protocols to cover additional forms of messaging, such as email and online chat. The unintended consequence has been to prohibit automated tools designed to spot exploitative images and online conversations with the appearance of grooming. While other firms, such as Microsoft, have not made changes, the volume of private messages on Facebook meant the company claimed it had no option but to act. ‘This train crash has been approaching since the summer,’ said John Carr of the Children’s Charities’ Coalition on Internet Safety. ‘Neither the EU, nor one of the world’s largest and most powerful tech companies could find a way of avoiding it. It is a very sad day for the children of Europe’. The European Commission plans to introduce legislation addressing child sexual abuse online next year, says the news site.
Child protection charities have responded with dismay to the news that Facebook has switched off its child abuse detection tools in response to new EU rules, according to the BBC website
- Region:
- Europe
- Series:
- Regulatory Watch
