Brussels: The European Parliament has backed efforts to extend Ireland’s landmark anti-cyberbullying legislation across the European Union, marking a significant step toward harmonised online safety laws.
The move centres on Ireland’s “Coco’s Law”, formally known as the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020. The legislation was introduced following the death of Nicole Fox, who died in 2018 after a sustained campaign of online abuse.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted in favour of a motion proposed by Tomas Tobé, calling for similar protections to be implemented across all EU member states. The proposal will now be submitted to the European Commission, which has the authority to draft and introduce legislation.
The initiative has also been driven by a sustained campaign from Nicole’s mother, Jackie Fox, whose advocacy has drawn widespread support among European lawmakers. Her efforts gained renewed attention following a European Parliament session in Strasbourg last month.
Coco’s Law criminalises online harassment and harmful-communications, aiming to provide clearer legal definitions and stronger protections for victims. If adopted at EU level, the legislation would seek to standardise how cyberbullying is defined and prosecuted across member states.
While the proposal has received broad backing, some political-groups—particularly on the right—have raised concerns that such measures could impact freedom of expression and restrict online interactions.
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