European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Remarks by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen and Commissioner Micallef on the action plan against cyberbullying Strasbourg, 10 February 2026 Executive Vice-President Virkkunen I would like to start by thanking Commissioner Micallef for the great cooperation on this important matter: protecting minors online. This topic is a high priority for the Commission, and f...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Remarks by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen and Commissioner Micallef on the action plan against cyberbullying Strasbourg, 10 February 2026 Executive Vice-President Virkkunen I would like to start by thanking Commissioner Micallef for the great cooperation on this important matter: protecting minors online. This topic is a high priority for the Commission, and for me personally. Because digital technologies and the Internet are key part of our societies. They must be safe for everyone – especially for children and youth. Nowadays 97% of young people in the EU use the Internet daily. They have the right to safely seek information, learn, be connected, and become engaged members of society. Social media, AI tools, videogames and messaging apps connect and engage. But they also come with serious risks. And we take these risks very seriously. We have our unique European framework for protecting and empowering minors online. Our flagship legislation, the Digital Services Act, has opened new pathways to a safer internet. Especially with the DSA guidelines on protection of minors, as adopted last summer, we have set a high standard for the protection and empowerment of minors online. The DSA protects kids from harms such as algorithmic manipulation, addictive design, and unwanted contacts. And we are fully enforcing the DSA. For example, we are moving forward in our proceedings against TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook due to our suspicions that minors are not protected on these platforms. Recently, we expanded our action against X with regards to the risks posed by their AI model Grok. Last October, we requested detailed information from Snapchat, YouTube, and both app stores about how they keep kids safe on their services. And we are in constant dialogue with the platforms to ensure our rules are understood and followed. While we have made progress, our work is not done. Our mission for a safer internet continues. Couple of weeks ago I had a chance to discuss with teenagers in my hometown Jyväskylä. They told me what we also know from surveys: children and young people across Europe are too often left feeling sad and left out, because of cyberbullying. This can happen in many ways – for example through hurtful comments, spreading rumours online, or sharing embarrassing or humiliating posts. A recent EU-survey among 12 to 17 year-olds confirms the widespread exposure to cyberbullying: 1 in 4 have experienced it personally, and more than 1 in 3 have witnessed it. And over the past years, cyberbullying has been the main reason for contacting the Safer Internet Centres operating across Member States. Behind each of these numbers is a young person. This is why today we present an Action Plan against cyberbullying. To ensure we approach it together, as a Union. In building our Action Plan, we consulted over 6300 children and young people. Based on their feedback we now have a way forward. We are presenting a common understanding of cyberbullying – because we cannot address this problem EU wide, if we do not agree on what it means. The Action Plan focuses on three pillars. Firstly, a coordinated approach across the EU. We invite all Member States to translate common objectives into effective national policies. We make full use of our existing legal and policy instruments – but also look at where we can better address cyberbullying in the future. This includes, for example, the upcoming review of the DSA guidelines on the protection of minors, and the DSA guidelines on trusted flaggers. The second pillar is all about enhancing prevention and awareness. We want to boost healthy and responsible digital practices from an early age to help prevent cyberbullying. Focusing especially on digital literacy – which is crucial for the resilience of our societies in the digital era. Everyone has a role to play here, from schools to sports clubs, youth centres and communities. And finally, the third pillar focuses on reporting and support. Ensuring that we have trusted and accessible channels to report abuse and get comprehensive help. The Commission will support the roll-out of an online safety app in Member States. To enable children and young people to easily report cyberbullying, store and send evidence, and receive tailored assistance. For this action plan to work, we need everyone to invest. The Commission, but also the Member States, and the many active local communities we have across Europe. So that our children and young people can be online safely, and no one is left behind. *** Commissioner Micallef Cyberbullying can take many forms: Abusive messages, public shaming, harassing, harming and hurting online. And cyberbullying is on the rise. The numbers are alarming. Young people being cyberbullied in Europe have increased by about 25% for both boys and girls between 2018 and 2022. Over the past five years, Cyberbullying has been the main reason for contacting the Safer Internet Centres helplines. And in Europe, around 1 in 6 children aged 11 to 15 report that they have been victims of cyberbullying. Behind every number or call to our helplines, there is a name, a face, a human being that is suffering. Cyberbullying comes with severe consequences. It harms and sometimes kills, taking the people, we love. Combating cyberbullying therefore means saving lives. On societal level, cyberbullying is a pandemic we must address. We must respond with resolve. We must beat bullying. And that is why we are proposing the EU Action plan against cyberbullying today. An action plan that is based on three pillars: Protection: We will strengthen our legal tools, reinforce platform responsibility and build safety by design. Prevention: We will equip young people, parents and educators with the skills to navigate online life safely, recognise harm early and protect well-being. Empowerment: We will ensure that help is at hand with one click to break the cyberbullying cycle before it begins. In total, across the three pillars, the Commission is proposing 13 concrete actions and with additional 9 actions we are inviting Member States to team up. This is Europe taking action – times twenty-two. We are refocusing our digital tools on cyberbullying to put people first. To make sure that technology serves people and not the other way around. The first pillar is about protection. Stronger rules, safer feeds and zero tolerance for cyberbullying. Europe is making cyberbullying a top priority in its online rules: DSA, AVMSD and AI Act. Because platforms must protect children, not profits. And harmful content must be reported and removed. To make this real, we will: Update online safety rules to better protect children; Ensure that platforms take ‘serious reports' more seriously; and Keep harmful content out of children's view on video platforms. We are closing the regulatory gaps, so that children and young people are protected whenever they are connected. The second pillar of the Action Plan is about prevention and awareness. Prevention begins with understanding, understanding builds awareness and awareness breaks stigma. That's why we're investing in digital skills that protect well-being: helping children navigate online life safely, spot harm early and ask for help without fear or shame. We team up to scale up. We bring together Europe's collective expertise, from Safer Internet Centres to the Better Internet for Kids platform, making what works reach everyone. This also includes backing educators with clear, practical guidance so they become the first line of protection. In classrooms, sport clubs, youth groups or volunteer spaces. Wherever young people play, learn and grow. We want educators, teachers and mentors to be the heroes of online safety equipped to nib harm and disinformation in the bud. The third pillar is about empowering people. It must be easier to report than to bully. And reporting must make a difference. Empowerment means help at hand in one click, so no one is left alone and the cycle of cyberbullying can be broken early. There are strong solutions already in place. Now we're scaling them: We will together rollout an accessible online safety app across Europe. This means one click to report harm. One click to get help. One click to feel supported. Fast. Because empowerment is about knowing that when you speak up, someone acts. With the Action plan against cyberbullying set in motion, the internet will be a safer and better, space and place. A place to grow, learn and stay connected. A ‘Safer Internet Day' – at any day. SPEECH/26/336 Press contacts: Thomas REGNIER (+32 2 29 91099) Eva HRNCIROVA (+32 2 29 88433) Patricia POROPAT (+32 2 29 80485) Eirini ZARKADOULA (+32 2 29 57065) General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email
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