Cyprus parliamentary committee reviews bill to criminalize online harassment and doxxing

The House Legal Affairs Committee in Cyprus, chaired by DISY MP Fotini Tsiridou, began reviewing a legislative proposal on November 4, 2026, aimed at curbing organized online harassment and doxxing. The bill seeks to amend the 2021 Law on Protection from Harassment and Stalking to address coordinated attacks and the malicious disclosure of sensitive personal data, such as home addresses or details regarding family members.

Under the proposed legislation, offenders involved in the organized targeting of individuals face up to three years in prison, or fines up to 30,000 euros, with some reports noting that penalties could escalate to five years and 50,000 euros in severe cases. Prosecutors would be required to prove that the conduct was both coordinated and intended to intimidate the victim. The proposal is distinct from a previous Ministry of Justice bill that faced backlash for allegedly threatening press freedom; proponents emphasize that the new text includes safeguards for journalism and political criticism, and does not cover hate speech. Future discussions may also incorporate regulations concerning artificial intelligence, specifically the generation and distribution of non-consensual deepfake content.