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Action plan against cyberbullying

Digital economy and society

The action plan against cyberbullying was announced in the Political Guidelines to address the growing trend of abusive behaviours online. It aims to create a comprehensive EU approach to tackling cyberbullying and support Member States. Building on instruments such as the Better internet for kids strategy and Digital Services Act, the plan will focus primarily on minors. It will also consider the gender dimension and vulnerability of certain groups of youths up to the age of 29 (e.g. people with disabilities, LGBTIQ people, migrants).

Links

Public consultation

ID: 14791

Lobbying Activity

34 responses

Microsoft calls for education-first approach to combat cyberbullying

Microsoft Corporation, 29 Sept 2025

Microsoft requests harmonized EU definitions of cyberbullying while preserving tech companies' ability to set service-specific policies. They advocate education and digital literacy campaigns for children, educators and parents as central measures. They warn against treating age assurance as a solution and urge regulatory simplification to avoid hampering existing frameworks like the Digital Services Act.
This preserves their flexibility to design age-appropriate safety features without prescriptive EU requirements.
Children may remain exposed to harm if education replaces stronger platform accountability measures.

Save the Children Calls for Community-Wide Prevention in Cyberbullying Plan

Save the Children Europe, 29 Sept 2025

The organization requests steering groups bringing together authorities, schools, industry, parent associations, and NGOs. They emphasize integrating prevention into schools' general bullying policies and ensuring reporting channels are accessible low-threshold services, potentially browser-based rather than requiring app downloads.
This would enable them to leverage their extensive programmatic experience on child online safety and anti-cyberbullying activities across European schools.
Children experiencing cyberbullying who face difficulty concentrating, school anxiety, hopelessness, nightmares, or self-harm thoughts without comprehensive support.

TikTok urges EU to leverage existing frameworks against cyberbullying

TikTok Technology Ltd, 26 Sept 2025

TikTok supports the Commission's objectives but urges leveraging existing frameworks rather than creating new regulations. They request a multistakeholder consultation on any EU-wide definition of cyberbullying, emphasizing the definition should be flexible to accommodate different platform approaches.
This would minimize new compliance requirements while allowing platform-specific approaches to content moderation.

DOT Europe urges flexible common definition for cyberbullying

DOT Europe, 26 Sept 2025

DOT Europe supports a common EU approach but requests a flexible definition for providers. They want the action plan to build on existing rules rather than creating duplicate regulations.
A flexible approach helps companies avoid the cost of modifying their existing safety systems.
Victims might face inconsistent protection levels if platforms are not required to update policies.

European Disability Forum urges targeted protections for youth with disabilities

European Disability Forum, 29 Sept 2025

The organization calls for a specific focus on young persons with disabilities in the action plan. This must involve equipping them with skills to identify cyberbullying, navigate digital spaces safely, and report abuse effectively. They demand inclusive platform design, stronger enforcement of anti-bullying policies, and coordinated efforts across education, technology, and child protection sectors.
This would provide stronger protections for their 100 million constituents facing disproportionate cyberbullying risks.
Digital platforms would face stricter accessibility requirements and enforcement of anti-bullying policies.

Video Games Industry Says Cyberbullying Rare on Gaming Platforms

Video Games Europe, 29 Sept 2025

The industry requests recognition of its existing safety framework and the differences between digital sectors. They want the action plan to acknowledge their five-pillar approach including age ratings, community tools, and parental controls.
This would exempt them from stricter regulations by validating their voluntary safety measures.
Minors on gaming platforms lose stronger protections if self-regulation remains primary safeguard.

Eurochild Urges EU to Define Cyberbullying and Hold Platforms Accountable

Eurochild AISBL, 29 Sept 2025

Eurochild requests a common EU definition of cyberbullying and stricter platform accountability. They want child-friendly reporting tools and targeted support for vulnerable children.
This proposal would secure long-term funding and a formal role for their helplines.
Tech and gaming companies would face increased costs for content moderation and monitoring.

La Poste urges public-private cooperation against cyberbullying

LA POSTE, 28 Aug 2025

La Poste supports the multidimensional approach and recommends public-private partnerships to spread best practices. They advocate for inclusive strategies targeting rural areas and populations with limited digital access.
Endorsing public-private cooperation helps the group market its commercial insurance and cybersecurity products.

LEGO Group Urges Safety by Design in Cyberbullying Plan

The LEGO Group, 29 Sept 2025

The organization calls for industry players to embed safety by design when developing digital services and requests a unified definition of cyberbullying aligned with international standards. They also recommend that the EU recognize and promote digital literacy resources for families.
The proposal promotes their existing business practices and educational resources as industry-leading standards for digital child safety.
Smaller digital service providers may struggle to implement costly human moderation and pre-moderation systems recommended by larger players.

Austrian Trade Union Calls for Platform Funding of Cyberbullying Support Services

Bundesarbeitskammer Österreich, 26 Sept 2025

The organization emphasizes that automated moderation is insufficient for cyberbullying cases requiring context and psychosocial support. They request that platforms provide financial support for victim support organizations, not just links or public funding. Trusted Flagger mechanisms need adequate funding to function effectively.
This would shift costs from public sector to platforms for services handling tasks platforms don't perform.
Social media platforms would bear new financial obligations for victim support services they currently avoid.

COFACE Families Europe urges funding for family-led cyberbullying support

Confederation of Family Organisations in the European Union, 29 Sept 2025

The organization calls for adequate funding to provide parents with resources for handling cyberbullying. They also recommend a flexible definition that covers threats made through artificial intelligence technologies.
Securing dedicated EU funding would allow these groups to maintain and expand their support operations.
Online platforms would face new costs for mandatory safety features and content moderation tools.

Missing Children Europe links cyberbullying to rising disappearance risks

European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children (Missing Children Europe), 29 Sept 2025

The organization requests that cyberbullying be recognized as a factor causing children to disappear. They demand better platform accountability and sustainable funding for specialized child hotlines.
The proposal would secure long-term financial support and official recognition for their network.
Social media companies would face higher costs through mandatory content moderation requirements.

Consultation response

Victim Support Europe, 29 Sept 2025

Victim Support Europe (VSE) welcomes the European Commission's initiative to develop an EU Action Plan on Cyberbullying. As the leading European network supporting all victims of crime, we stress that cyberbullying is not just a digital or social issue; it is a serious form of psychological…

ECPAT Urges Stronger Tech Accountability in EU Cyberbullying Plan

Stichting ECPAT International, 24 Sept 2025

ECPAT demands tech companies take responsibility for systemic risks and harms on their platforms. They call for a child-centered definition of cyberbullying linked to existing EU criminal laws. The group also seeks better reporting mechanisms and psychological support for victims.
The proposal would secure more funding and influence for ECPAT in EU policy-making.
Technology platforms face increased costs for mandatory audits and strict content moderation requirements.

Consultation response

HateAid gGmbH, 29 Sept 2025

HateAid welcomes the European Commissions initiative to tackle cyberbullying and digital violence. Our recent study with the University of Klagenfurt, which surveyed over 3,000 people in Germany, shows that digital violence is widespread. Most children (14 to 17) and young adults (18 to 27) have…

Consultation response

DigitalES - Asociación Española para la Digitalización, 26 Sept 2025

Please see file attached below.

Consultation response

Kaspersky Labs Limited, 18 Sept 2025

Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity company with extensive experience and expertise in protecting children online, welcomes the European Commission's initiative to develop an Action Plan Against Cyberbullying. We believe that a coordinated EU approach is essential to tackle the growing trend of…

Consultation response

Local Government Denmark, 28 Sept 2025

KL hilser dette initiativ velkomment, da der er behov for i øget grad at regulere krænkende adfærd online. KL bemærker, at der der også er behov for denne typer initiativer for andre målgrupper, herunder politikere, hvor chikane og trusler på sociale medier er et stigende problem. 64 pct. af danske…

Consultation response

The Smile of the Child, 16 Sept 2025

The Smile of the Child welcomes the initiative and hereby wishes to make the following contribution: Initially,a unified definition formulated according to circumstances that have already occurred and oriented toward prevention will result in a systematic & structured approach to addressing the…

Consultation response

European Council for Steiner Waldorf Education, 29 Sept 2025

Dear, our feedback is focusing on the role of formal education settings in preventing cyberbullying by recognising it as a standard form of bullying and addressing it in such manner, by providing quality digital media education and by supporting teachers so they can support pupils in creating a…

Consultation response

Autism-Europe, 29 Sept 2025

Autism-Europe (AE), representing autistic people and their families through around 90 member organizations in 40 countries, including in 26 EU member states, welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop an EU-wide Action Plan against cyberbullying. Autistic youth are disproportionately…

Consultation response

Børns Vilkår, 25 Sept 2025

Digital media are an integral part of everyday life for most children and young people across Europe. While online platforms offer opportunities for connection and friendship, they also expose children to significant risks, including cyberbullying, exclusion, and exposure to harmful content. Recent…

Consultation response

U.Di.Con. APS Unione per la Difesa dei Consumatori, 29 Sept 2025

Il testo, presentato nellambito della consultazione della Commissione europea, accoglie liniziativa di un piano contro il bullismo online e ne delinea priorità e misure. Dopo aver richiamato rischi e impatti ansia, depressione, isolamento, perdita di autostima e, nei casi estremi, ideazione…

Consultation response

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 29 Sept 2025

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Childrens (ISPCC) purpose is to protect childhood. We believe in a future where children are better, happier, safer. ISPCC supports the approach the Commission has outlined in this call for evidence and has outlined its position further in the…

Consultation response

, 29 Sept 2025

According to the Offlimits helpline, young people often express they no longer feel safe even in their own bedrooms, as their phones have become a channel where bullying can continue 24/7. Moreover, cyberbullying is not confined to one platform; it often spreads across several, which intensifies…

Consultation response

Bris, Barnens rätt i samhället, 29 Sept 2025

See attached document:

Consultation response

European Federation of Psychologists Associations, 29 Sept 2025

EFPA welcomes the Commissions initiative to develop a comprehensive European Action Plan against cyberbullying. Psychologists recognise cyberbullying as a profound threat to mental health, social cohesion, and the development of young people. The psychological evidence shows that cyberbullying…

Consultation response

Bundespsychotherapeutenkammer, 29 Sept 2025

Action plan against cyberbullying Statement by the Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists in Germany Cyberbullying has become a serious and persistent problem for children and adolescents across Europe in recent years. The second volume of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study by…

Consultation response

Somis Enterprises Oy, 26 Sept 2025

Somis Enterprises Oy (SomeBuddy or Someturva) welcomes the European Commission's initiative to develop an Action Plan Against Cyberbullying. We agree that online bullying must be addressed in a coordinated manner at both the European Union and national levels. In our work, we see the devastating…

INDECOSA-CGT Urges Human Contact Over Digital Surveillance To Combat Cyberbullying

Information et défense des consommateurs salariés – Confédération générale du travail, 26 Sept 2025

The group demands prioritizing human contact and education over digital surveillance and repression. They advocate for a society based on collective interest rather than market logic.
This protects consumer privacy and prevents the isolation caused by total digitalization.
Private tech interests lose their dominance and ability to exploit users for profit.

Consultation response

Christian Council International, 25 Sept 2025

Christian Council International (CCI) appreciates the opportunity to provide feedback on the initiative for an Action Plan Against Cyberbullying. In the attached feedback, we offer concrete, substantiated recommendations that, we believe, are essential for the successful implementation of the…

Consultation response

Fundacja Dajemy Dzieciom Siłę, 18 Sept 2025

Cyberprzemoc jako wyzwanie społeczne Cyberprzemoc to jedno z najpoważniejszych zagrożeń dla dzieci i młodzieży w erze cyfrowej. Internet stał się głównym miejscem budowania relacji, ale również przestrzenią hejtu, zastraszania, kompromitowania i wykluczania. Zjawisko to jest częścią przemocy…

Consultation response

STIFTELSEN FÖR INTERNETINFRASTRUKTUR, 16 Sept 2025

Internetstiftelsen publicerar årligen undersökningen Svenskarna och internet om svenska folkets internetvanor, hur användningen av internet utvecklas och digitaliseringen av samhället. Genom undersökningen kan vi bidra med oberoende kunskap om hur digitaliseringen påverkar samhället och individen.…

Consultation response

Instytut na rzecz Kultury Prawnej Ordo Iuris, 26 Aug 2025

Main thesis: 1. Countering cyberbullying does not require a uniform definition or a common strategy at EU level; the problem is mainly local, cultural, and educational in nature and is better addressed at the national level. 2. The current EU legal framework, such as the Digital Services Act (DSA)…