Thorn joins global coalition condemning the EU’s CSAM detection gap

On April 3, 2026, the legal basis allowing platforms to detect child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in Europe will expire. Without it, online service providers across the EU can no longer proactively detect and remove this content from their platforms – not because the tools don’t exist, but because EU policymakers failed to reach an agreement in time.

Thorn has joined more than 240 organizations worldwide in formally condemning this failure and calling on EU leaders to act.

We are proud to stand alongside child helplines, law enforcement partners, survivor advocacy organizations, and child rights groups spanning six continents in demanding an urgent, permanent solution. The full joint statement is below.

JOINT STATEMENT

This is sadly no April Fool’s joke: Europe is switching its detection of child sexual abuse online off 

On 3 April 2026, online service providers in the EU will no longer be able to detect and remove child sexual abuse content on their platforms.

We, a coalition of 247 organisations working to advancing children’s rights and ending sexual abuse, strongly condemn EU policymakers’ failure to extend the legal basis that allowed these detection activities.

This failure creates a deeply alarming and irresponsible gap in child protection. The consequences will be devastating – in Europe and beyond. To tackle the millions of images and videos of child sexual abuse circulating online, detection at scale is indispensable and foundational. It enables platforms to report abuse to law enforcement, triggering investigations that identify victims and bring perpetrators to justice. It also allows tech companies to remove illegal material and prevent its redistribution. Through these efforts, thousands of victims are identified and millions of abusive files are removed from circulation.

Without detection, reports of child sexual abuse material will drop dramatically, as seen during the previous lapse in the legal framework in 2021. Law enforcement will lose critical leads to uncover sexual abuse cases and children will remain trapped in abusive situations. Meanwhile, abusive content will continue to spread unchecked, forcing victims to relive their trauma each time it is viewed or shared. Behind every image and video is a child, forced to endure the repeated violation of their fundamental rights, including their right to privacy.

Protection of children is not optional, it is a duty grounded in the EU and international frameworks – an inescapable responsibility. Poll after poll, EU citizens have consistently supported detection measures for the past 5 years. European leaders must deliver on this mandate. Children must not continue to pay the price of political deadlock.

We call on EU policymakers to act with urgency and responsibility by adopting, without delay, an ambitious and permanent legal framework. Every day without detection is another day children are left unprotected. The European Union must act now to close this gap, ensure effective detection, and uphold its duty to protect children.

SIGNED 

1. Actua SCCL (Spain)
2. ADDHG – Associação de Defesa dos Direitos Humanos de Guimarães (Portugal)
3. AFANOC (Spain)
4. Agarrados à Net (Portugal)
5. Akto – Human Rights and Democracy 
6. Albanian National Child Helpline – ALO 116111 (Albania)
7. ALIAT FOR MENTAL HEALTH (Romania)
8. All Survivors Project (ASP)
9. AMCV (Portugal)
10. AMMKC (Lithuania)
11. Anglia Ruskin University (United Kingdom)
12. Appartement 101 (France)
13. Ariel Foundation International
14. ASEAF Asociación estatal de familias de Acogida (Spain)
15. Associació Benestar i Desenvolupament-ABD (Spain)
16. Associacions Federades de Famílies d’Alumnes de Catalunya (aFFaC) (Spain)
17. Asociación Por Ti Mujer (Spain)
18. Asociatia Casa Faenza (Romania)
19. Asociatia de Sprijin a Copiilor Handicapati Fizic (Romania)
20. Asociatia Esperando (Romania)
21. Association des Femmes de l’Europe Méridionale (AFEM)
22. Association e-Enfance/3018 (France)
23. Association for Liberty and Equality of Gender (A.L.E.G) (Romania)
24. Association Meilleur Avenir pour Nos Enfants (AMANE) (Maroc)
25. Associação AjudAjudar (Portugal)
26. Associação de Mulheres Contra a Violência (Portugal)
27. Associação Mén Non (Portugal)
28. Associação Não Partilhes (Portugal)
29. Associação Portuguesa de Estudos sobre as Mulheres (APEM ) (Portugal)
30. Associação Ser Mulher (Portugal)
31. APP – Associação P de Potência (Portugal)
32. Associació Benestar i Desenvolupament (Spain)
33. Associació Coordinadora Sinergia Social (Spain)
34. Associació de Consumidors de Mitjans Audiovisuals de Catalunya (Spain)
35. Association for nonviolent communication (Slovenia)
36. Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family (SPAVO) (Cyrpus)
37. Association “New generation” (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
38. Árvore-Mãe (Brasil)
39. ASTRA (Anti trafficking action)
40. Austrian Network for Children’s Rights – National Coalition (Austria)
41. Awel (Belgium)
42. Barnahus (Spain)
43. Brave Movement/ Together for Girls
44. Berufsverband Deutscher Psychologinnen und Psychologen (BDP) (Germany)
45. Bílý kruh bezpečí (Czech Republic)
46. Børns Vilkår (Denmark)
47. CAMELEON Association (France)
48. Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc (Canada)
49. Cedar Foundation (Bulgaria)
50. Center for Equality Advancement (Lithuania)
51. Center for Missing and Exploited Children Croatia (Croatia)
52. Center for Violence Prevention (Denmark)
53. Central Union for Child Welfare (Finland)
54. Centrs Dardedze (Latvia)
55. Centrs MARTZ (Latvia)
56. Child Focus (Belgium)
57. ChildFund Alliance
58. Child Helpline International
59. Childlight – Global Child Safety Institute
60. Child Rescue Coalition
61. Child Safety Online Consulting
62. Children’s Justice International
63. Children’s Rights Alliance
64. Children Support Centre (Lithuania)
65. ChildX (Sweden)
66. CNAPE (France)
67. COFACE Families Europe
68. CONCORDIA SOCIAL PROJECTS INTERNATIONAL 
69. CooLabora – Intervenção Social (Portugal)
70. Cooperativa SEIES (Portugal)
71. CRCA-ECPAT Albania (Albania)
72. CyberSafeIreland CLG (T/A CyberSafeKids)
73. Dar Hosea (Malta)
74. Defence for Children – ECPAT Netherlands (Netherlands)
75. Dignity Online (Ukraine)
76. Dutch NGO Coalition on Children’s Rights (Netherlands)
77. ECPAT Austria (Austria)
78. ECPAT 360 (formerly known as ECPAT France)
79. ECPAT Germany (Germany)
80. ECPAT International
81. ECPAT Taiwan (Taiwan)
82. EDUVIC, SCCL (Spain)
83. Elien Rebirth (France)
84. Emmanuel Development Association (EDA )(Ethiopia)
85. Emocinės pagalbos ir konsultacijų centras (Lithuania)
86. Empowering Children Foundation (Poland)
87. EOS – Associação de Estudos, Cooperação e Desenvolvimento (Portugal)
88. Eurochild
89. Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice
90. Estonian Union for Child Welfare (Estonia)
91. Ethelios (France)
92. European Innovation Centre (EINC) (Lithuania)
93. FAI
94. FEDAIA (Federació d’entitats d’atenció a la infància) (Spain)
95. Federación de Asociaciones de Mujeres Arena y Laurisilva (FAMAL) (Spain)
96. Federation for Victim Assistance (Ireland)
97. Federation of Mother and child homes and Shelters (Finland)
98. Federation of Nongovernmental Organizations for Children (Romania)
99. Feminoteka (Poland)
100. First Children’s Embassy in the World MEGJASH (Republic of Macedonia)
101. Fondation pour l’Enfance (France)
102. Fondazione SOS il Telefono Azzurro ETS5 (Italy)
103. Free a Girl Netherlands(Netherlands)
104. Fundação Cuidar o Futuro (Portugal)
105. Fundació Acció Social Infància (Spain)
106. Fundació Casa Sant Josep (Spain)
107. Fundació Idea (Spain)
108. Fundació Infància i Família
109. Fundació Main (Spain)
110. Fundació Magone (Spain)
111. FUNDACION ANAR (Spain)
112. Fundación Aprender a Mirar (Spain)
113. Fundacion Nazareth (Spain)
114. Fundació Privada Centre Educatiu i de Lleure CEL (Spain)
115. Fundació SERGI (Spain)
116. Fundatia Inima de Copil (Romania)
117. Guernsey Victim Support & Witness Service (United Kingdom)
118. Graal (Portugal)
119. Halley Movement Coalition (Mauritius and Southern Africa)
120. Heat Initiative (USA)
121. Hintalovon Child Rights Foundation (Hungary)
122. “Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center (Cyprus)
123. Hultsfred Vimmerby Shelter (Sweden)
124. INHOPE
125. Inspiring Girls Portugal (Portugal)
126. Instituto de Apoio à Criança (Portugal)
127. International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children
128. International Child Development Initiatives
129. International Children’s Safety Service (Hungary)
130. International Federation of Social Workers (Europe)
131. International Forum of Solidarity – EMMAUS / Safer Internet Center in Bosnia and Herzegovina
132. International Justice Mission Inc
133. International Justice Mission Deutschland e.V. (Germany)
134. International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute (IPPPRI)
135. International Social Service
136. Internet Safe Kids Africa 
137. Internet Watch Foundation
138. Instituto de Apoio à Criança (Portugal) 
139. Irish Internet Hotline (Ireland)
140. Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) (Ireland)
141. isala asbl (Belgium)
142. ITAKA FOUNDATION (Poland)
143. Joniškis woman association (Lithunania)
144. Justice Initiative
145. Kinderschutz Schweiz (Switzerland)
146. Kindred Tech (New Zealand)
147. Koalicja na rzecz Rodzinnej Opieki Zastępczej/Polska (Poland)
148. Kvinnojouren Jämtlands län (Sweden)
149. La Strada International
150. Latvian Child Welfare Network (Latvia)
151. L’Ecole des Valeurs Luxemburg
152. Les Ami(e)s de Romy (France)
153. Libra Ets (Italy)
154. Lietuvos moterų teisių įtvirtinimo asociacija  (Lithuania)
155. Lietuvos universitetų moterų asociacija (LUMA) (Lithuania)
156. Linka detskej istoty / Child Safety Line (Slovakia)
157. Lithuanian Centre for Human Rights (Lithuania)
158. Lithuanian women’s lobby (Lithuania)
159. Lobby Europeo de Mujeres en España (LEM España) (Spain)
160. Lucy Faithfull Foundation (UK)
161. Make Mothers Matter
162. Marie Collins Foundation (UK)
163. Marijampolės apskrities moters veiklos centras (Lithuania)
164. Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies (MIGS)
165. Missing Children Europe
166. MiudosSegurosNa.Net (Portugal)
167. Montessori Europe 
168. Moters užimtumo informacijos centras (Lithuania)
169. Multicultural children and youth center “Padėk Pritapti” (Latvia)
170. Mulher Século XXI ONG (Portugal)
171. Nacionalinė asociacija prieš prekybą žmonėmis (Lithuania)
172. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (USA)
173. National Criminal Justice Training Center (NCJTC) (USA)
174. National Network for Children – Bulgaria
175. Necuvinte Association Romania (Romania)
176. Network for Children’s Rights (Greece)
177. Network for the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – National Coalition Germany (Germany)
178. Ninlil – Empowerment und Beratung für Frauen mit Behinderungen (Austria)
179. Offlimits (The Netherlands)
180. Ombudsman fir Kanner a Jugendlecher (OKAJU, Luxembourg)
181. Ombudsman for Children, Croatia
182. Open Gate/La Strada North Macedonia
183. Opferhilfe Berlin e.V. (Germany)
184. Osez le Féminisme (France)
185. PAJE (Portugal)
186. Pancyprian Coordinating Committee for the Protection and Welfare of Children (Cyprus)
187. PATENT Association (Hungary)
188. PFAD BV der Pflege- und Adoptivfamilien e.V. (Germany)
189. Plataforma PDA Bullying (Spain)
190. Plataforma Portuguesa Para Os Direitos Das Mulheres-Associação (PpDM) (Portugal)
191. Plataforma de mulheres (Portugal)
192. Platform HOPE (USA)
193. Point de Contact (France)
194. Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV) (Portugal)
195. Protect All Children from Trafficking (PACT) (USA)
196. Protect Children (Finland)
197. Quebrar o Silêncio (Portugal)
198. Recursos Educatius per la Infància en Risc (REIR) (Spain)
199. Ribologija (Lithuania)
200. Roks – National organisation for women’s shelters and young women shelters (Sweden)
201. Roma Community Centre (Lithuania)
202. SaferNet Brazil (Brazil)
203. Salesians Sant Jordi (Spain)
204. Save the Children Romania (Romania)
205. Save the Children Denmark
206. Save the Children Italy
207. Save the Children Finland
208. Service social international-Suisse (Switzerland)
209. Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth (Slovenia)
210. Society Kljuc – centre for fight against trafficking in human beings (Slovenia)
211. SOS Children’s Villages International
212. SOS Rijeka
213. Soroptimist International Clube Lisboa Fundador (Portugal)
214. Stebėk teises (Lithuania)
215. Stichting Misbruikt (Netherlands)
216. Stowarzyszenie DROGA (Poland)
217. State Commission for Counteracting the Sexual Abuse of Minors under the age of 15 (Poland)
218. Stiftung Digitale Chancen | Digital Opportunities Foundation Germany (Germany)
219. St. Jeugdhulp Voldoende Beschermd (Netherlands)
220. SWGfL (UK)
221. Tartu Child Support Center (Estonia)
222. Tauragės moters užimtumo ir informacijos centras (Lithuania)
223. Terre des Hommes Netherlands (Netherlands)
224. TolerantYouth Association (Lithuania)
225. The Smile of the Child (Greece)
226. Thorn
227. Udruga Breza/Breza Association (Croatia)
228. Union of Women Associations of Heraklion (Greece)
229. Validity Foundation (Hungary)
230. Veda Vidus (Lithuania)
231. Victimology Society of Serbia (VDS)
232. Victim Support at Court (Ireland)
233. Victim Support Europe
234. Victim Support Scotland (Scotland)
235. Victim Support NI (Northern Ireland)
236. Visavi – Femmes en détresse (Luxembourg)
237. Voices of Children (Ukraine)
238. WEISSER RING (Germany)
239. WeProtect Global Alliance
240. Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE) 
241. Women’s Issues Information Centre (Lithuania)
242. Women’s Innovation Activity Centre (Lithuania)
243. Women Without Violence International Foundation WWVIF
244. World Vision Romania (Romania)
245. Zentrale Informationsstelle Autonomer Frauenhäuser (Germany)
246. 116 000 Enfants Disparus (France)
247. 419 Consulting Ltd (United Kingdom)