Brussels, June 2, 2026 – The Europe Today: Victims of cyberbullying in Belgium could soon gain access to the identities of anonymous online perpetrators under proposed legislation announced by Rob Beenders.
The planned reform would expand the powers of the Telecommunications Ombudsman’s Office, enabling it to assist victims in identifying individuals behind anonymous abuse on social media platforms. The initiative is being developed jointly by Beenders and Vanessa Matz.
According to officials, the Telecommunications Ombudsman Service received thousands of complaints related to online bullying last year, involving platforms such as WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and Snapchat. Many of the complaints concerned serious offenses, including death threats, intimidation, and stalking, often carried out anonymously.
Under current legislation, victims can already request information about perpetrators who commit offenses via telephone calls or text messages by using phone numbers as identifiers. However, the same mechanism has not previously applied to online harassment conducted through social media platforms.
The proposed changes would allow the Ombudsman’s Office to seek identifying information, including names and addresses, of anonymous individuals suspected of online abuse. Victims could then use the information to file police reports, pursue legal action, or contact the alleged perpetrators directly.
The legislation would also require telecommunications operators and relevant service providers to cooperate with investigations. Failure to comply could result in penalties imposed by the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT).
Despite the proposal, experts have raised concerns about its practical implementation. Questions remain over whether social media companies possess reliable identity information for all users and whether they would be willing or legally able to disclose such data. Critics have also warned of the potential risk of individuals taking matters into their own hands once identifying information becomes available.
The proposal is expected to spark further debate as Belgium seeks to strengthen protections against online harassment while balancing privacy, enforcement, and legal safeguards.
