The EU creates an app for teenagers to report cases of cyberbullying
The tool will be able to store evidence to make it available to the authorities
The European Commission has a new plan to combat cyberbullying across the European Union. Brussels presented a set of proposals on Tuesday to protect teenagers on social media and announced the creation of an app through which they can report any case of online harassment they experience. The Commission explained in a statement that the initiative aims to provide victims of cyberbullying with an "easy and clear way" to report and receive help efficiently. "For this reason, an essential element of the action plan is the launch of an accessible and easy-to-use app," the Commission added in its statement issued on Tuesday. Furthermore, the Commission stated that the app will be able to "securely store evidence" and make it available to the relevant authorities. They also explained that a draft version will be developed and sent to national and regional governments before the app is launched, so they can adapt it to their specific laws and territories.
The European Commission has also published a report showing that one in six teenagers has been a victim of online harassment, and that one in eight has admitted to cyberbullying. For this reason, Brussels says it wants to implement various measures to combat this type of harassment. bullying.
The European Commission has also announced plans to revise the Digital Services Act, which regulates large technology companies and social media platforms, to compel them to prevent and take action against cyberbullying. Specifically, Brussels wants to prevent minors from being exposed to sensitive content and ensure they can easily report it. It will also seek to ensure that social media platforms identify and remove illegal content related to cyberbullying. Furthermore, the Commission emphasizes that it will guarantee the implementation of regulations against the creation of fake content generated by artificial intelligence (AI), which can contribute to cyberbullying. It will also develop a code of best practices to prevent AI from further increasing cases of online harassment.