EU member state · European Union
Italy: cyberbullying law for schools
Bottom line for counselors: Schools must have anti-bullying rules, and those rules cover online bullying. Takedown help is limited, so report harmful posts to the platform first. Some online abuse can be a crime under general laws.
Last verified: checked against official sources on 11 November 2026.
EU member state
Italy
Cyberbullying law since 2017 and a class phone ban at every level.
Compare with anywhere elseProtection score
One point for each of the seven questions answered yes, half a point for partly. Where a rule is set nationally, the national answer counts. A quick guide, not a legal rating.
- Yes:
Do schools have to have anti-bullying rules?
Yes. National law requires every school to have a bullying and cyberbullying lead teacher and an internal code, and head teachers must inform parents of incidents.
Legal detail and sources
Legge 29 maggio 2017, n. 71 (Law 71/2017, the first cyberbullying law), extended to all bullying by Legge 17 maggio 2024, n. 70 (Law 70/2024), and Decreto legislativo 12 giugno 2025, n. 99 (Legislative Decree 99/2025).
- Yes:
Do those rules cover online bullying?
Yes. The law began as a cyberbullying law and now covers all bullying.
- Partly:
Is there a regulator that can get harmful posts taken down?
Partly. Under the EU Digital Services Act, platforms must act on reports of illegal content, trusted flaggers get priority, and you can complain to the national Digital Services Coordinator. There is no national body that orders individual posts down for bullying alone.
Legal detail and sources
The national Safer Internet Centre runs a helpline that can escalate cases to platforms. In Italy, children aged 14 or over (or their parents) can ask a platform to remove cyberbullying content and, if it does not act within 48 hours, go to the Garante per la protezione dei dati personali (Data Protection Authority).
- Partly:
Is there a minimum age for social media?
No ban in force. Children can sign up to apps that use their data from age 14 without a parent's consent.
Legal detail and sources
This is the 'digital age of consent' each country sets under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), article 8. An EU KIDS Act proposed in September 2026 would bar under-13s from social media EU-wide and set 15 as the age for a child's own account; it is not yet law.
- Yes:
What are the rules on phones at school?
Phones are banned in class for all ages, in primary and lower secondary since 2024 and upper secondary since 2025.
Legal detail and sources
Ministry notes of 11 July 2024 and circular of 16 June 2025.
- Partly:
When is online abuse a crime?
There is no single cyberbullying offence. Online abuse can be a crime when it becomes harassment, threats, stalking, defamation or sharing intimate images without consent.
- Partly:
What guidance do staff and counselors get?
Guidance comes from the education ministry and the national Safer Internet Centre, which offers a helpline and resources for schools.
Legal detail and sources
The EU's 2026 Action plan against cyberbullying promises more training and resources for schools.
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