EU Tightens Child Online Safety Laws: Strictest Protections in France, Germany, and Sweden
The European Union is escalating its fight against online child exploitation, with new data revealing which member states have implemented—and successfully enforced—the toughest digital safeguards for minors.
France, Germany, and Sweden lead the EU in combating online child sexual abuse (OCSA). France’s 2021 Secure Digital Republic Act mandates real-time content removal, while Germany’s Network Enforcement Act (2023) imposes €50M fines on platforms failing to report abuse material. Sweden criminalizes “grooming” with 6-year sentences (EU Commission Report, 2024).
While Germany’s laws reduced OCSA reports by 32% in 2024 (Europol data), France’s dedicated judicial units secured 1,200 convictions last year. Also, the EU-wide Digital Services Act (2023) now requires platforms like Meta and TikTok to verify users’ ages and limit targeted ads to minors (EEPS, 2025).
