Last week marked a significant milestone in the EU’s approach to ensuring children’s digital safety, as both the Council and the European Parliament made important decisions that will influence how young people experience online spaces in the years ahead.
After years of stalled negotiations, the Council of the European Union reached a joint position on the proposed Child Sexual Abuse Regulation (CSAR). For a long time, discussions were held back by concerns about privacy, encryption and proportionality. The new position seeks to break the deadlock by allowing platforms to voluntarily detect child sexual abuse material (CSAM), distancing themselves from the mandatory system originally proposed by the European Commission in 2022. The Council stressed that all measures must remain proportionate and compliant with EU data-protection rules. Having participated in the public debate about safeguarding both children and fundamental rights, I see this agreement as an exciting promise.
These developments coincided with the adoption of a report by the European Parliament calling for stronger safeguards for children online, including a ban on addictive design and engagement-driven recommender systems. These steps signal a growing recognition across EU institutions that digital environments directly shape children’s mental health and wellbeing. Since 2020, child helplines in Europe have received 2.9 million mental-health-related contacts, underscoring the urgency of strengthening online safety measures.
In turn, during the 7th Meeting of the EU Network for Children’s Rights, the European Commission presented findings from its consultation with children for the forthcoming EU Action Plan Against Cyberbullying. As usual, I was struck by the voices of the children who clearly called for better reporting tools, more responsive platforms, and safe, confidential ways to access counselling and support services. Their perspectives mirror what European child helplines see every day. In 2024 alone, they received nearly 80,000 bullying-related contacts, both online and offline, while contacts related to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse (TF-CSEA) almost doubled, rising from 6,000 in 2023 to 10,107 in 2024.
Children and young people are increasingly seeking support online, with one-third of all contacts to European child helplines in 2024 made through online means (webchat, messaging apps or social media). For many, especially those in unsafe family environments, this may be the only safe way to reach a trusted adult. At the same time, children are increasingly turning to AI chatbots for guidance, with our child helpline members reporting a significant impact on behaviour.
This is why, as the EU advances reforms on age-verification, access restrictions, parental tools, online architecture and AI governance, it is essential that new measures strengthen protections without cutting off children’s confidential pathways to support, including child helplines.
Political negotiations on the CSAR are expected to continue in 2026, offering a key opportunity to strengthen child protection from TF-CSEA while preserving children’s access to help. New regulatory initiatives will be presented to continue building the responsibility of tech platforms to ensure safe spaces for children.
Child Helpline International will continue engaging with stakeholders to make sure children’s voices and real-world experiences inform the decisions ahead.
For more information, please contact me, Fabiola Bas Palomares, Senior EU Policy Officer for Tech Policy.
Fabiola Bas Palomares
Senior EU Policy Officer for Tech Policy,
Child Helpline International
