ECPAT and NSPCC’s 2023 Poll has shown that public opinion remains steadfast. We surveyed 25,151 people aged 18+ across 15 EU countries and the UK and we found out that the call for legislation to protect children online is not up for debate; it’s an urgent public demand. More than half of all Europeans surveyed declared that this issue will influence how they vote at a future election. With the European Parliament elections on the horizon in June 2024, MEPs face a duty and a moral imperative to enact meaningful legislation for online child safety.
Not only are Europeans calling for more child safety online, but ECPAT and Eurobarometer data show they want it now more than ever. In 2021, ECPAT conducted a similar poll, asking EU citizens about their views on child safety online. The findings from 2021 and 2023 underscore a major growing concern among European citizens: children in 2023 are not safer online than they were in 2021. The time has come to place legal obligations on online service providers, such as social media platforms, to assess and mitigate the risk of child sexual abuse on their online platforms.
In the words of Frida*, a survivor of technology-facilitated sexual abuse as a child:
“As a 13-year-old, I deserved to be safe, and I deserved the right to express myself on the internet. As someone in my early twenties I deserve the right to privacy, the right to know that explicit images and videos of me as a child can’t continue to be shared.”
Despite the contentious debate around online privacy, ECPAT and NSPCC poll reveal that 72% of adults in the EU and the UK are willing to compromise some degree of their privacy online if it helps to protect children from risks of sexual abuse online. Data show that more than 70% of adults in the EU and the UK support online service providers to detect, report, and remove child sexual abuse material and grooming on end-to-end encrypted services. The message is clear: privacy concerns should not eclipse the safety of our children.
Amy Crocker, Head of Child Protection and Technology at ECPAT International said:
Public sentiment remains unswayed by privacy debates that overshadow child protection needs. The demand for comprehensive legislation safeguarding our children online is urgent, immediate, and non-negotiable. EU leaders can no longer afford to be inactive or indecisive. Privacy is essential, buthe well-being of our children must be the cornerstone of EU digital policies.
Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC Chief Executive, said:
It’s clear that voters across the UK and Europe back strong protections for children online and companies opposed to regulation are becoming increasingly out of step with their user base. Lawmakers and tech executives should listen to the voices of survivors and the public by placing the safety of children at the centre of their decision-making.
Data reveals that Europeans see online service providers as one of the most important actors in preventing and protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation online. And for a good reason! A WeProtect Global Study on the experiences of 18-20-year-old confirms Europeans’ growing concern: more than 60% of child respondents in Europe are experiencing at least one form of child sexual abuse online. Alarmingly, more than 60% of children worldwide are receiving unwanted sexually explicit photos, videos, or messages through mobile phones on private messaging services.
ECPAT Disrupting Harm research shows that advice and education coming from parents and teachers is not enough to protect children online. More needs to be done on the side of tech companies and online service providers as the dangers for children increase.
Meet ECPAT Project Beacon – Putting children’s rights into the heart of digital policy
What do the EU citizens really think about data privacy and child protection online?
How far are we to ensure Child Safety Online in the EU? A timeline of events.
Towards online child protection in the EU
Why Does Online Child Protection Matter? Here is ECPAT Project Beacon to explain why
ECPAT welcomes European Commission’s proposal to prevent and combat child sexual abuse
What is ECPAT doing to ensure Child Safety Online in the EU?
Comment, like, and share to help us get the word out! #EUvsChildSexualAbuse #ChildSafetyON
This legal factsheet determines the extent to which Kyrgyz laws provide access to child-centric justice and protection for children who have been subjected to sexual exploitation. It draws on key informant interviews to explore perceptions of the practical realities of children’s access to justice. The findings were presented during a national consultation with stakeholders, who provided feedback and discussed pathways to enhance access to justice and effective remedies for children subjected to sexual exploitation in Kyrgyzstan.
Available in: English
This legal factsheet determines the extent to which Uzbek laws provide access to child-centric justice and protection for children who have been subjected to sexual exploitation. It draws on key informant interviews to explore perceptions of the practical realities of children’s access to justice. The findings were presented during a national consultation with stakeholders, who provided feedback and discussed pathways to enhance access to justice and effective remedies for children subjected to sexual exploitation in Uzbekistan.
Available in: English
This legal factsheet determines the extent to which Kazakh laws provide access to child-centric justice and protection for children who have been subjected to sexual exploitation. It draws on key informant interviews to explore perceptions of the practical realities of children’s access to justice. The findings were presented during a national consultation with stakeholders, who provided feedback and discussed pathways to enhance access to justice and effective remedies for children subjected to sexual exploitation in Kazakhstan.
Available in: English
This legal factsheet determines the extent to which Georgian laws provide access to child-centric justice and protection for children who have been subjected to sexual exploitation. It draws on key informant interviews to explore perceptions of the practical realities of children’s access to justice. The findings were presented during a national consultation with stakeholders, who provided feedback and discussed pathways to enhance access to justice and effective remedies for children subjected to sexual exploitation in Georgia.
Available in: English, Georgian
The ECPAT Country Overview on Egypt provides a comprehensive summary of all forms of sexual exploitation of children in the country, assessing achievements and challenges in implementing counteractions to eliminate this issue. It suggests concrete priority actions urgently needed to proactively advance the national fight against sexual exploitation of children.
Available in: English
ECPAT International and the Association for the Social Support of Youth have launched a project on the digital safety of children on the move, with a particular focus on Greece and linkages to the Venezuelan migration crisis in Latin America. As a first step, this Literature Review explores:
Available in: English