In a resolution adopted on Thursday with a show of hands, plenary calls for effective and dissuasive penalties for cyberbullying offences, making reporting incidents easier for victims, and closing EU-level legal gaps in acknowledgement of the full scale and severity of the problem.
Criminal law measures
MEPs are concerned about increasing cyberbullying and image- or video-based abuse online, suggesting existing measures in place may not be sufficient. They want the Commission to assess whether a harmonised definition of cyberbullying at the EU level is needed, and whether it should be recognised as a cross-border EU crime. Another avenue, they argue, would be to add hate crime to the list of EU crimes, as this would also cover the most serious cases.
Parliament is disappointed at the lack of a legal framework for detecting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online and asks the Commission to work quickly to ensure digital platforms adopt voluntary reporting mechanisms. They note that platforms have obligations to ensure a safe digital space for children.
Platform accountability and DSA enforcement
MEPs emphasise the need to hold online platforms accountable in the prevention and countering of cyberbullying, warning of certain business models that incentivise the spread of hateful content, especially affecting minors, women, and the LGBTIQ+ community. They also criticise hyper-personalised recommender systems pushing hate speech and down-ranking less divisive content.
Parliament wants tougher enforcement of article 28 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) covering the protection of minors, urging the Commission to wrap up pending cases and strongly opposing any attempts to reopen the law. MEPs are concerned about the increasing use of AI for abuse (e.g. generating deepfakes and non-consensual intimate content) and call on providers to comply with the AI Act obligations on labelling. They reiterate the need for a ban on so-called “nudifier apps”, currently under negotiation between the co-legislators.
Support for victims
The text recalls the need to strengthen protection and support for victims of cyberbullying and to increase funds for victim’s organisations, integrating cyberbullying and response measures into national mental health strategies. Member states should prioritise prevention, education and awareness-raising, geared towards children, parents and educators, MEPs add, as well as demanding of them the swift implementation of the EU’s victims’ rights directive.
Background
Cyberbullying behaviour has emerged as a significant threat to the online safety and well-being of minors and young people, with a severe and lasting impact on victims In response to this, and to demands for action (92% of EU citizens want authorities to take action on this subject), in February 2026 the Commission presented a dedicated action plan against cyberbullying.
While some member states (like Ireland’s “Coco’s law”) are introducing targeted provisions to address cyberbullying, legal fragmentation persists across the EU.
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