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
ECPAT International’s opinion on the topic of child sexual abuse online and the European Commission’s proposal to Combat and Prevent Child Sexual Abuse online. Interview broadcasted in the German MDR/AR media journal.
Available in: German
Available in: English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
Ensuring the safety of children online is imperative in today’s digital era, requiring a deep understanding of their perspectives and needs as outlined by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The VOICE project, conducted by ECPAT International, Eurochild, and Terre des Hommes Netherlands on behalf of the Down to Zero Alliance, engaged children and caregivers in 15 countries to inform policy discussions on digital safety. While digital spaces offer learning and entertainment opportunities, they also present risks like cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content, constituting a violation of children’s rights.
The VOICE Report “Speaking Up For Change: Children’s and caregivers’ voices for safer online experiences” emphasises the necessity of effective safety measures and children’s participation in shaping online safety policies.
Available in: English
This briefing summarizes a multi-sector roundtable that took place in Seoul in February 2024 on the topic of child safety in online gaming environments. With emphasis on the role of culture and language, it complements and builds on previous discussions in London (2022) and New York (2023) focused respectively on research and data, and safety insights and good practice in addressing risk and harm with a gender lens.
Available in: English
ECPAT International joins forces with DOT Europe, CCIA and 50+ tech trade associations and NGOs working for child safety online with a joint statement to the European Union. Concerned about slow progress on the EU proposal to combat child sexual abuse, ECPAT calls for a two-year temporary framework extension and the need for a robust, long-term solution to the issue of child sexual abuse online.
Available in: English
In the Americas, the codes of conduct in travel and tourism have developed significantly over the last two decades. These codes have been promoted by governments and civil society organisations to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation of children. This case study analyses the experience of implementing a mandatory national code in Colombia and a voluntary code in Mexico. It reflects on the implications, effectiveness, and relevance of mandatory and voluntary approaches, pointing out the challenges and opportunities, describing their main results and analysing the complementarity of these standards with ECPAT’s initiative – The Code.
The case study was developed by ECPAT International in cooperation with Fundación Renacer and ECPAT México.
Estándares de protección para las niñas, niños y adolescentes en la industria de viajes y turismo: la experiencia de México y Colombia
En las Américas, los códigos de conducta en viajes y turismo se han desarrollado significativamente durante las últimas dos décadas. Estos códigos han sido promovidos por gobiernos y organizaciones de la sociedad civil para prevenir y responder a la explotación sexual de niñas, niños y adolescentes. Este estudio de caso analiza la experiencia de implementación de un código nacional obligatorio en Colombia y un código voluntario en México. Reflexiona sobre las implicaciones, efectividad y relevancia de los enfoques obligatorios y voluntarios, señalando los desafíos y oportunidades, describiendo sus principales resultados y analizando la complementariedad de estos estándares con la iniciativa de The Code, de ECPAT.
El estudio de caso fue desarrollado por ECPAT International en cooperación con la Fundación Renacer y ECPAT México.
Available in: Spanish