It claims many lives each year, but some people don’t know what it is exactly. This is cyberbullying, a form of digital violence for which ten people are currently being tried, for their malicious comments against Brigitte Macron. Because yes, although many do not know it, cyberbullying is a crime. Victims, means put in place to help them… Tech&Co tells you everything you need to know about this harmful practice.
- Cyberbullying: what is it?
To begin with, it is important to remember that cyberbullying is an omnipresent reality, although we talk about it mainly in the school environment. As the Ministry of National Education points out on a dedicated page, it is “above all a form of harassment.” “It is defined as ‘an aggressive and intentional act perpetrated by an individual or a group of individuals through forms of electronic communication, repeatedly against a victim who cannot easily defend himself or herself,’ it specifies.
The government site Cybermalveillance completes and repeats this definition, explaining article 222-33-2-2 of the penal code and indicating that “cyberbullying consists of repeated malicious actions, in a public or restricted context, which can take different forms: intimidation, insults, threats, rumors, publication of compromising photographs or videos, etc. They can be committed by a single person or by several and take place on social networks, messages, forums, blogs, etc. We could also add games in line.
Above all, we must remember that cyberbullying, no matter how virtual it may sometimes seem behind a keyboard, is a crime. Thus, creating a discussion topic, a group or a page on a social network against a person is also considered cyberbullying. The same happens with account hacking, identity theft and the publication of a photo or video of the victim “in poor condition.” Revenge porn or non-consensual sexting (exchange of sexual content via SMS or messaging) are also part of it.
- How many victims?
Cyberbullying claims many victims each year, but it is difficult to have a precise figure. However, this problem is addressed in studies every year. According to the 2024 edition of the annual study carried out by the e-Enfance association and the Savings Bank (carried out among 3,204 respondents), 23% of young people between 6 and 18 years old have already suffered acts of cyberbullying. 20% even suffered from it in primary school.
Adults are not spared either, since online harassment is also one of the main threats for companies, communities and administrations and individuals, as revealed by the Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr activity report for the year 2024. This phenomenon generated 7,600 requests for assistance on the platform, with an increase of 31% for individuals, 533% for professionals and 566% for communities and administrations.
In more general terms, 41% of French people have already been victims, according to a study carried out (among 1,008 people) by Ipsos for the Féministes association against cyberbullying in 2022. A figure that even increases to 67% among people aged 25 to 34 and 87% among those aged 18 to 24. Whether on social media or by SMS, they faced insults, threats or even identity theft.
- What sanctions for the authors?
Punishable by law, cyberbullying is punishable by financial sanctions and imprisonment. As e-Enfance reminds us, citing the penal code, everything depends on the age of the perpetrator and the victim. Thus, if the first is of legal age and the second is over 15 years old, they risk a fine of up to 30,000 euros and two years in prison. This sentence can result in a fine of up to 45,000 euros and three years in prison if you are under 15 years of age.
When the perpetrator is a minor (but over 13 years old) and the victim is over 15, they face a fine of 7,500 euros and one year in prison. It increases to 18 months in prison and a fine of 7,500 euros if the child is under 15 years of age.
- What does it mean for victims?
Since cyberbullying is a crime, several means have been implemented to help victims report it. You can already do this on the platform where it happened. Social networks such as Instagram are considered technical intermediaries, but this does not mean that the message in question will be deleted because it is the platform that decides whether or not it violates its community rules.
Young people have the possibility of calling 3018, a unique national number to alert them to a situation of cyberbullying and harassment. Free and available every day from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., it allows victims to express themselves and request information. Since February 2022, it is even available in the form of a mobile app to report behaviors but also to store evidence in a digital safe.
Otherwise, the victim can turn to Pharos, a platform to report this type of illegal content and managed by specialized police and gendarmes. If the agents determine that this content actually violates French law, it will be referred to an investigation service of the national police, the national gendarmerie, customs or the General Directorate of Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control. After which a criminal investigation may be opened.
However, please note that a report on Pharos does not constitute an official complaint. The victim also has the possibility of reporting their situation on the digital victim assistance platform (Pnav).
He suggests talking to police or gendarmes trained to deal with these situations. They will provide you with advice and support in your reporting process.
Something that the victim can also do directly at a police station or gendarmerie. But in this case, it will be necessary to think about collecting evidence of the crime (screenshots, etc.), which will potentially be used during the trial, if the latter takes place. Filing a complaint does not always, or even rarely, result in legal action.
The same goes for reports to specialized platforms. According to France Info, which reports from the Ministry of Justice, while Pharos agents examine hundreds of people every day, in 2024 only 74 people were convicted of cyberbullying (compared to 63 the previous year). Among them are the seven cyberbullies convicted of having published hate messages against the director of the Paris Olympic ceremonies, Thomas Jolly.
Source: BFM TV
