Cork MEP speaks about cyberbullying during European Parliament debate

Speaking yesterday, Wednesday, in the European Parliament during a debate on cyberbullying, Fianna Fáil Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher said banning such accounts is the “easiest and simplest way to end cyber-bullying”.

Mr Kelleher said that if someone wants to post something on social media, their ID needs to be stored and verified by the platforms concerned.

He continued: “By all means, call your account FreedomLover1777 publicly but if you cyberbully a child, incite hatred, threaten people, be warned, there will be consequences under the various member state’s legal system in accordance with the law.

“Cyberbullying is abhorrent.

“It causes untold distress, harm, and, painfully, loss of life, due to suicide, in each member state of the European Union.”

In his address yesterday, Mr Kelleher described bullying of any form as “a cowardly act” that usually covers up for a bully’s own failings and insecurities as a person.

He continued: “No doubt I will be attacked by US 2nd Amendment-loving free speech keyboard warriors, but in this Union, there is no such thing as an unlimited right to free speech.

“People from outside the EU should stop trying to impose their country’s legal system onto us here in Europe.”

He also said: “We care about our young people and about vulnerable members of our communities.

“As a society, we can no longer allow the serious harm caused by social media and cyber bullying to continue,” concluded the Fianna Fáil MEP for Ireland South.