The Union is urging the SPD to allow an extension of the so‑called “voluntary chat monitoring” so that private communication can be supervised at the EU level. “Starting in April, child protection will be left in limbo” said Union interior policy spokesperson Alexander Throm to the “Tagesspiegel” (Tuesday edition). “The Social Democrats have caused this with their ideologically driven blockade at the EU level”.
According to Throm, this would lead to a drastic drop in tips to law‑enforcement agencies. He warned that perpetrators of the most serious child‑abuse crimes could once again hide behind a misunderstood right to privacy. “This policy puts perpetrator protection above child protection” he said.
The politician also called on Birgit Sippel, the SPD’s interior policy spokesperson in the European Parliament and the reporting officer, to immediately clear the way for such a solution. “I urge Justice Minister Hubig to finally bring her party colleague in Europe to reason” Throm added.
