AMSTERDAM - The European Union outlined plans on Wednesday to better protect children against online sexual abuse, obliging internet service providers to detect, report and remove any such material regardless of where they are based.

The initiative was presented by EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson.

"We want to support access to digital devices and skills for children, especially those in vulnerable situations, fight cyberbullying, and protect all children from harmful and illegal online content", EU's Vice-President Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.

Most children in the EU use their smartphones daily and almost twice as much compared to ten years ago, and from a much younger age, the statement added.

According to the EU, 60 procent of child sexual abuse material worldwide is hosted on EU servers.

  - Reuters