Last month, the European Commission launched the EU Action Plan Against Cyberbullying, committing to review digital legislation to better address this issue. This initiative is extremely timely, as European child helplines recorded an average of 216 contacts per day related to bullying in 2024 alone. And it is only getting worse, often overlapping with other forms of online violence, particularly sexual extortion and AI-facilitated sexual abuse.
Strengthening prevention and pathways to support
Strong enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) guidelines and the AI Act can significantly contribute to better prevention and improved access to remedies on online platforms. We particularly welcome the actions included in the Action Plan to strengthen pathways to support for victims, bystanders, and perpetrators.
As the largest network of child helplines globally, we stand ready to support and inform the development of the proposed app to facilitate reporting, help-seeking, and the secure storage of evidence by children.
Crucially, the app must be flexible and modular so that it can be integrated into the platforms where children encounter risks, thereby minimising barriers to support. Effective signposting will be just as important as providing the pathway itself.
Senior EU Policy Officer for Tech Policy, Child Helpline International
