Lack of action in EU puts victims and survivors of CSAM at severe risk: Statement from the Phoenix 11

On March 25 we sent a statement raising our concerns to members of European parliament. This statement was made public on March 26.

We, the Phoenix 11, feel compelled to crucially raise the alarm that one of the most reliable systems there is to protect children from online sexual exploitation is at an immediate risk in the EU.

In a little more than a week, online services operating in Europe will be legally barred from using longstanding search tools used to block or stem the spread of child sexual abuse and material (CSAM) on their own platforms.

We know in ways few can understand what happens when the systems meant to protect children aren’t used or don’t exist. We are survivors of child sexual abuse whose abuse was recorded and distributed online, and we refuse to stay silent when the EU is considering this irresponsible act that will cause immeasurable harm.

For years, survivors like us have relied on the moderation systems that the EU may abandon. These systems are fine tuned to not only identify images and videos of CSAM, but to also detect if the images have been slightly altered – in an attempt to evade moderation. These tools significantly disrupt the distribution of CSAM, preventing our and other survivors’ re-victimization. These systems proactively prevent tens of millions of illegal images from proliferating online.

As this deadline looms, we are reminded that in 2020 a similar crisis occurred when conflicting EU laws first caused this unintended outcome, leading companies to stop all CSAM detection activities across Europe for months.

The results were as you would expect: Reports of child sexual exploitation from tech companies plummeted by 58% that year. Some 2.5 million would-be CSAM reports simply vanished from the radar, despite very much still being present. For survivors, this willful blindness is simply devastating. It meant that the harm of us and countless other children continued unchecked.

Despite this looming catastrophe in the EU, there is still hope. There remains a narrow window for action, to extend the current legal framework and preserve the systems that are working. Thursday, a vote will take place on a last-minute amendment to a proposed regulation that would extend an existing temporary rule that allows tech companies to purge CSAM as they currently do.

Europe has long positioned itself as a global leader in tackling online crimes against children through the adoption and implementation of the Digital Services Act. It now stands just days away from potentially stepping back from that leadership role that has historically contributed to the safety of children.

For survivors, this isn’t about politics; it’s about safety and protection. Our lives have been changed forever because of the proliferation of images and videos of the abuse we faced as children. Europe should not turn its back on us now - we are counting on you.

Sincerely,

Phoenix 11