MEPs are calling for strict enforcement of the law, a harmonised definition of cyberbullying and greater accountability on the part of platforms to better protect victims.
In a resolution adopted on Thursday by a show of hands, the plenary calls for effective and dissuasive penalties for cyberbullying offences, to make it easier for victims to report incidents, and to close legal loopholes at EU level so that the scale and seriousness of the problem are recognised.
Criminal law measures
MEPs are concerned about the rise in online harassment involving images or videos, which suggests that existing measures may not be sufficient. They want the Commission to assess whether a harmonised definition of cyberbullying is needed at EU level and whether it should be recognised as a cross-border EU crime. Another possibility would be to add hate crimes to the list of EU offences, as this would cover the most serious cases.
The resolution regrets the absence of an EU legal framework for detecting child sexual abuse material online and calls on the Commission to work swiftly to ensure that digital platforms adopt voluntary reporting mechanisms. MEPs point out that platforms have a duty to ensure a safe digital space for children.
Platform liability and enforcement of the Digital Services Act
Parliament emphasises the responsibility of platforms in preventing and combating cyberbullying, and warns that certain business models encourage the spread of hate speech, which particularly affects children, women and the LGBTIQ community. It also criticises hyper-personalised recommendation systems, which promote hate speech and discourage less polarising content.
Parliament calls for stricter enforcement of Article 28 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) with a focus on the protection of minors, urges the Commission to conclude pending cases and strongly opposes any attempt to reopen the legislation. MEPs are concerned about the growing use of AI for abusive purposes (for example, for the generation ofdeepfakes andnon-consensual intimate material) and call on providers to comply with the labelling obligations under the AI Act. They reiterate the need to ban so-called ‘nude-generating apps’, currently under negotiation between the co-legislators.
Support for victims
The text emphasises the need to strengthen protection and support for victims of cyberbullying and to increase funding for victims’ organisations, as well as to integrate online harassment and response measures into national mental health strategies. Member States must prioritise prevention, education and awareness-raising aimed at children, parents and educators, according to the EP, which also calls on them to swiftly implement the EU Directive on victims’ rights.
Background
Cyberbullying has become a significant threat to the safety and well-being of children and young people online, and has serious and long-lasting implications for victims. To address this phenomenon and the calls for action (92% of EU citizens want the authorities to take action on this issue), in February 2026 the Commission presented a specific action plan against cyberbullying.
Whilst some Member States (such as Ireland, with the ‘COCO Act’) are introducing specific provisions to tackle cyberbullying, legal fragmentation across the EU persists.
More information: European Parliament.
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