Country · South America
Ecuador: cyberbullying law for schools
Bottom line for counselors: Schools must have anti-bullying rules, and those rules cover online bullying. There is no takedown regulator, so report harmful posts to the platform. Serious online abuse can be a crime.
Last verified: checked against official sources on 11 November 2026.
Country
Ecuador
School harassment has been a penal contravention since 2021, and younger students may not use phones at school.
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. The Organic Law of Intercultural Education (LOEI) requires schools to prevent violence, and a 2021 reform made school and academic harassment an offence.
Legal detail and sources
The Ministry of Education issues protocols for responding to violence detected in schools. Source note: this answer relies on legal commentary or other non-official summaries (Derecho Ecuador), not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
- Yes:
Do those rules cover online bullying?
Yes. The harassment covered by the penal code includes acts by digital or electronic means.
Legal detail and sources
Source note: this answer draws on news reporting (El Comercio), not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
- No:
Is there a regulator that can get harmful posts taken down?
No online safety regulator that orders removal of bullying content.
- No:
Is there a minimum age for social media?
No legal minimum age for social media.
- Yes:
What are the rules on phones at school?
Yes. Under Ministerial Agreement 2025-00015-A, phones are not allowed for students in early and general basic education; upper-secondary (bachillerato) students may use them only for teaching purposes or exceptional cases.
Legal detail and sources
In April 2026 the ministry confirmed the rule still applies after a new disciplinary agreement caused confusion. Source note: this answer draws on news reporting (El Mercurio and Vistazo), not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
- Yes:
When is online abuse a crime?
Yes. Since August 2021, article 154.3 of the Comprehensive Organic Penal Code (COIP) makes school and academic harassment a contravention (a minor offence), not a crime.
Legal detail and sources
Penalties are non-custodial measures; harsher ones apply when a teacher or school authority is the harasser. Source note: this answer draws on news reporting (El Comercio) and other non-official summaries, not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
- Yes:
What guidance do staff and counselors get?
Yes. Schools have student counseling departments (DECE) that handle cases of violence under ministry protocols.
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