The Members of the European Parliament (MEP) have adopted the temporary regulation allowing web-based service providers to continue detecting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online even in private messages, on a voluntary basis, using the least intrusive techniques.

The provisional agreement which was reached in April foresees the temporary derogation from Articles 5(1) and 6(1) of Directive 2002/58/EC, which protects the confidentiality of communications and traffic data. 

This legislation will be  applicable for a maximum period of  three years,  allows Service providers to continue applying voluntary measures to detect, remove and report abusive content and the National data protection authorities will have oversight of the technologies used.