Cyberbullying (harassment on the internet)

Verified 10 November 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

How to react to an act of cyberharassment? After identifying a case of cyberharassment, it is important to collect evidence of these facts. Then the victim or witness can make a reporting to the competent authorities and request the deletion of content illicit. The victim also has the opportunity to take legal action by filing a complaint against the perpetrator of the cyberharassment in order to obtain his conviction and seek compensation. Here are the steps to follow.

Step-by-step approach

Cyberbullying takes place via the internet (on a social network, a multiplayer video game, a blog, etc.). These may be publications on a online platform public (for example, a forum) or private exchanges (for example, on the private messaging of a social network).

The cyberbullying may take several forms:

  • The psychological harassment on the internet consists of intimidating and humiliating the victim with messages of insults, mockery, threats, etc.
  • There is school bullying on the internet when a pupil is humiliated, bullied or is the subject of rumors by a student or teacher in the school. For example, it could be the publication of discriminatory remarks on a student's « Instagram » account.
  • The sexual harassment on the internet which manifests itself by sending the victim messages, photographs, videos or video montages to sexual connotation or sexist. These may include sexual photos of the victim, pornographic videos showing strangers and sent to the victim, etc.

Cyberbullying always requires a repetition facts (for example, a person posts insult messages on the victim's « Facebook » wall daily).

So that this offense be retained, the acts committed must also have:

  • Caused a deterioration in the victim's living conditions
  • Or violated the dignity of the victim
  • Or creates a situation that is intimidating, hostile or offensive to the victim.

This offense may be committed by:

  • One person, who acts repeatedly
  • Or by a group of people, without each of them having acted repeatedly.

The victim of cyberbullying must collect as much evidence as possible of these facts. These may include:

  • Screenshots (for example, images sent by private message)
  • Copying emails
  • Audio or video recordings
  • Of a attestation of witnesses (with their full identity)
  • A medical certificate
  • Of a handrail previously filed against the harasser.

In any case, the victim must be as precise as possible: all these documents must be dated.

This evidence is essential to carry out a reporting or if the victim wishes to testify complaint. They will be taken into account by the competent services, even if the cyberharassment took place for several years.

Please note

The victim may appeal to a commissioner of justice so he can see the harassment. The findings of this professional are paying off.

The victim or witness of a cyber-harassment case can report to multiple authorities and agencies.

These various reports make it possible in particular for the contents illicit be deleted as soon as possible.

The reporting devices are not the same depending on the age of the victim :

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Major victim

The hosting providers must offer internet users mechanisms to report content published on a site or a website. online platformwhen they consider it to be illicit.

These mechanisms must be easily accessible to anyone who wishes to report illegal data. It must be able to issue an alert by electronic means.

Social networks (Twitter, Facebook,Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, etc.) have developed reporting systems that allow for accurate explanation of the situation and reporting of illegal content.

In the case of independent websites (e.g. the website of a company), the person who wishes to make a report must search for the host's contact details (e.g. email address).

FYI  

In general, the contact details of the host can be found in the legal notice of the website.

The alert shall contain the following information:

  • Description of the content illicit
  • Content localization (for example, URL address)
  • Contact details of the notifier (surname, first name, email address, etc.)
  • Declaration of good faith.

FYI  

It is not mandatory to have tried to contact the offender to report illegal content to the internet host. The victim or witness may directly report the facts to the host.

If a person reports content as illegal, knowing that it is not, he or she faces a sentence of one year in prison and €15,000 of fine.

In addition to removing the publication illicit, the victim of cyberharassment may request the de-referencing relevant content in a search engine.

Please note

Victims and witnesses of cyberbullying cannot report online, to the police or gendarmerie. Victims can only file a complaint.

Minor victim

It is possible to report the facts to law enforcement, 3018 professionals and / or the hosting provider the site on which the illegal content is located.

Each plays a different role.

Reporting to law enforcement

An instant messaging (chat) allows victims and witnesses of cyberharassment to report these facts to the competent authorities (police or gendarmerie):

Report cyberbullying, sextortion, online threats, blackmail, revenge porn or the dissemination of illegal content - Service reserved for minors

Please note

At any time, the person can leave the chat and the chat history is deleted.

When this report is made, the police officer or gendarme advises the victim or witness and assists him in his administrative procedures (example: filing a complaint). If deemed necessary, it may call in a patrol and/or initiate an emergency procedure to bring the victim to safety.

Report to 3018

The minor (or a witness) may also contact the 3018, national number for victims of harassment and digital violence.

The professionals of this organization can, in particular, contact the hosting provider site or platform concerned and ask it to remove illegal content.

Who shall I contact

  • To ask your questions anonymously and confidentially about school harassment.

    By phone

    3018

    Open 7 days a week, from 9am to 11pm

    Free and anonymous call

    Website

    e-enfance.org

    App Store and Google Play

    The 3018 app is also available from the App Store and Google Play.

Reporting to the site host

The hosting providers must offer internet users mechanisms to report content published on a site or a website. online platformwhen they consider it to be illicit.

These mechanisms must be easily accessible to anyone who wishes to report illegal data. It must be able to issue an alert by electronic means.

Social networks (Twitter, Facebook,Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, etc.) have developed reporting systems that allow for accurate explanation of the situation and reporting of illegal content.

In the case of independent websites (e.g. the website of a company), the person who wishes to make a report must search for the host's contact details (e.g. email address).

FYI  

In general, the contact details of the host can be found in the legal notice of the website.

The alert shall contain the following information:

  • Description of the content illicit
  • Content localization (for example, URL address)
  • Contact details of the notifier (surname, first name, email address, etc.)
  • Declaration of good faith.

FYI  

It is not mandatory to have tried to contact the offender to report illegal content to the internet host. The victim or witness may directly report the facts to the host.

If a person reports content as illegal, knowing that it is not, he or she faces a sentence of one year in prison and €15,000 of fine.

Please note

In addition to removing the publication illicit, the victim of cyberharassment may request the de-referencing relevant content in a search engine.

File a complaint against the cyberstalker

Any victim cyberharassment can file a complaint against the perpetrator (or against X if she does not know his identity).

The complaint must be filed within 6 years from the day on which the last act of cyberbullying took place.

To lodge a complaint, the victim may go to the police station or the gendarmerie brigade of his choice. She also has the opportunity to write to the public prosecutor.

When filing a complaint, the victim may constitute a civil party for the perpetrator of the cyberharassment to be ordered to pay him damages and interest.

Warning  

If the victim is a minor, his legal representatives must accompany her so that she can become a civil party.

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On site

To file a complaint, the victim must go to the police station or to the gendarme of his choice.

Who shall I contact

Police or gendarmerie services are obliged to register the complaint of the victim of a offense.

It's the public prosecutor who decides on the action to be taken on the complaint (investigation, filing without follow-up...).

Throughout the procedure, the victim may be assisted by a lawyer.

If it does not have sufficient financial resources to pay this professional, it may eventually apply for legal aid.

By post

To file a complaint with the public prosecutor, the victim must send a letter to court of the place of the offense or of the domicile of the offender.

The letter must specify the following:

  • Civil status and full contact details (address and telephone number)
  • Detailed account of the facts, date and place of the offense
  • Name of the alleged perpetrator if the victim knows him (otherwise, the complaint will be filed against X)
  • Name and address of any witnesses to the offense
  • Description and provisional or definitive estimate of injury
  • Evidence documents: medical certificates, work stoppages, photographs, screenshots, videos, etc.

It is possible to use a mail template:

File a complaint with the public prosecutor

The complaint can be sent by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (preferably), by simple letter or by letter followed.

It can also be filed directly at the reception of the court.

In any case, a receipt is sent to the victim as soon as the public prosecutor's office has registered the complaint.

FYI  

Throughout the procedure, the victim shall be assisted by a lawyer.

If it does not have sufficient financial resources to pay this professional, it may eventually apply for legal aid.

Securing the Conviction of the Cyberstalker

Following the complaint, an investigation is conducted and the alleged cyberstalker may be prosecuted before the criminal court.

If he is convicted, he can be sentenced. These different sanctions depend on the type of cyberharassment committed:

Warning  

Of specific sanctions apply when the cyberbully is a minor.

If the victim has constituted civil party, the court may also order the perpetrator to pay him damages and interest.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • For more information on harassment

    Access points to the right

  • To obtain counseling and counseling as a victim of an offense

    This service allows victims of infringements (excluding damage to property on the internet) to be listened to and referred to a victim support association or a specialized service. It is accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people.

    In metropolitan France

    116,006

    Free call

    Service available every day of the year, from 9am to 8pm.

    Outside metropolitan France (or from the foreigner)

    + 33 (0)1 80 52 33 76

    Free call

    Service reachable every day of the year, from 9am to 8pm (Paris time).

    By email

    By email: victimes@116006.fr

  • To obtain counseling and advice in the event of harassment on the Internet (service reserved for minors and young adults)

    To ask your questions anonymously and confidentially about online harassment (cyber-harassment).

    By phone

    3018

    Open 7 days a week, from 9am to 11pm

    Free and anonymous call

    Website

    e-enfance.org

    App Store and Google Play

    The 3018 app is also available from the App Store and Google Play.

  • To obtain counseling and advice in the event of harassment on the internet (service reserved for women)

    Listen, inform and guide women victims of violence, and witnesses to such violence.

    Deals with physical, verbal or psychological violence, at home or at work, and of any kind (including sexual harassment, assault and rape).

    Does not deal with emergencies (this is not a police or gendarmerie service).

    For other types of violence, 3919 provides a first-level response and directs or forwards to a useful number.

    By phone

    39.19 (free call from a landline or mobile phone in metropolitan and DOM)

    Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

    Anonymous call

    Call not listed on phone bills

  • To obtain information on the removal of illegal content published on the internet

    By post

    3 Place de Fontenoy

    ASD 80715

    75334 Paris cedex 07

    Cnil does not receive the public and does not provide any information on the spot.

    By phone

    +33 1 53 73 22 22

    Telephone reception open Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 5 pm.

    Legal information open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 12pm.

    By email

    Access to contact form