Euractiv

Greece To Ban Anonymity On Social Media

European Conservative

Greece Moves To End Online Anonymity as Part of Social Media Crackdown

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Greece moves towards banning anonymity on social media, quoting toxicity

The Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ interview on CNN with Christiane Amanpour

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GreekReporter.com

Greece Moves to End Anonymous Social Media Accounts

Electronic Frontier Foundation

The Right to Anonymity is Vital to Free Expression: Now and Always

Belfer Center

Why Online Anonymity Matters

Aeon

Curtailing Anonymity Is A First Step To Reducing Online Abuse

Metaculus

Eu Age Verification On Social Mediaai In 2026

Anthony Albanese

9News Australia

Terry Flew

Australian Human Rights Commission

Aaron Mackey

Joanne Orlando

Melissa McIntosh

Damini Satija

Julie Inman Grant

Timothy Koskie

"They took the easy option, and it will fail."

“New accounts are being created and the age-verification tools that the government assured Australians would be effective, have proven laughably easy to bypass with some makeup and good lighting.”

“Tech-savvy teens simply use VPNs, fake birth photos for face scans, or migrate to less regulated platforms like Lemon8, or to platforms not part of the ban like video games. Enforcement is proving to be difficult in the days leading up to the ban.”

"Some verification methods are often inaccurate while others are easily circumvented.”

"Technological workarounds – such as VPNs and false age declarations – may undermine the effectiveness of the ban."

"This law will also push many users toward platforms that are more personal and private, like Telegram channels, WhatsApp Communities, and Signal Groups, which are not currently banned because they are important tools for encrypted and direct communication."

David Inserra

“Ultimately, reducing online harm would be a great outcome; however, we know from evidence that ‘banning’ anything from young people won’t work on its own.”

Louise La Sala

“There’s a fair amount of teething problems around it. Many young people have been posting on TikTok that they successfully evaded the age limitations and that’s to be expected.”

"I think it will help a lot of parents because it's not them saying no, it's an actual law."

Cassie Xintavelonis

“We don’t expect safety laws to eliminate every single breach. If we did, speed limits would have failed because people speed, drinking limits would have failed because, believe it or not, some kids do get access to alcohol.”

“The fact that teenagers occasionally find a way to have a drink doesn’t diminish the value of having a clear national standard.”

"Just as the banning of phones in school classrooms by many state governments hasn't on day one led to perfect compliance, now it's just accepted that there are improved educational outcomes, improved behaviour, improved social outcomes as a result."

"Australia's social media ban is already driving change, and is proof that the threat of regulation works, even before the law takes effect. Waiting for perfect policy risks paralysis when real progress is already within reach.”

Will Australia's Under 16 Social Media Ban be Effective?

The Greek government is actively pursuing plans to require social media platforms to verify user identities, according to comments from Greek Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou, published by Euractiv on Tuesday.

The Greek government is actively pursuing plans to require social media platforms to verify user identities, according to comments from Greek Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou, published by Euractiv on Tuesday.

The initiative is reportedly being managed within the office of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis as the country heads toward national elections in early 2027, with campaigning already underway.

The initiative is reportedly being managed within the office of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis as the country heads toward national elections in early 2027, with campaigning already underway.

Speaking to the news website at the Delphi Economic Forum, Papastergiou argued that anonymous accounts on social media enable harassment, disinformation and character assassination without consequence, before claiming there were "many technical ways" to achieve the government's goal.

Speaking to the news website at the Delphi Economic Forum, Papastergiou argued that anonymous accounts on social media enable harassment, disinformation and character assassination without consequence, before claiming there were "many technical ways" to achieve the government's goal.

Clarifying Papastergiou's remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Pavlos Marinakis told the news outlet that the plan would not abolish online pseudonyms, but would rather require every profile to correspond to a verified real person. Marinakis, however, refused to rule out the possibility that the government would extend the restrictions to other parts of the internet.

Clarifying Papastergiou's remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Pavlos Marinakis told the news outlet that the plan would not abolish online pseudonyms, but would rather require every profile to correspond to a verified real person. Marinakis, however, refused to rule out the possibility that the government would extend the restrictions to other parts of the internet.

The measure is the latest of its kind announced by the Greek government. Earlier in the month, Mitsotakis unveiled <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/greece-bans-social-media-for-kids-under-">a ban on social media access for children under 15</a>, which the government expects to take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis

The measure is the latest of its kind announced by the Greek government. Earlier in the month, Mitsotakis unveiled a ban on social media access for children under 15, which the government expects to take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

On the matter, Mitsotakis has written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling for EU-level action, arguing that platforms "need to cooperate" and acknowledge their responsibility for developing products "addictive by design."

On the matter, Mitsotakis has written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling for EU-level action, arguing that platforms "need to cooperate" and acknowledge their responsibility for developing products "addictive by design."

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Greece's Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou is leading a government push to require social media platforms to verify user identities, arguing that anonymous accounts enable harassment, disinformation and character assassination without consequences.

Greece's Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou is leading a government push to require social media platforms to verify user identities, arguing that anonymous accounts enable harassment, disinformation and character assassination without consequences.

The initiative is being managed at the highest levels of government within the office of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as Greece heads toward national elections in early 2027, with campaigning already underway.

The initiative is being managed at the highest levels of government within the office of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as Greece heads toward national elections in early 2027, with campaigning already underway.

Deputy Prime Minister Pavlos Marinakis clarified that the plan would not abolish pseudonyms, but would require every profile to correspond to a verified real person. Critics warn the measure could raise freedom of expression concerns.

Deputy Prime Minister Pavlos Marinakis clarified that the plan would not abolish pseudonyms, but would require every profile to correspond to a verified real person. Critics warn the measure could raise freedom of expression concerns.

Greece has also announced a ban on social media access for children under 15, set to take effect Jan. 1, 2027. An opinion poll published in February found around 80% of respondents support the measure.

Greece has also announced a ban on social media access for children under 15, set to take effect Jan. 1, 2027. An opinion poll published in February found around 80% of respondents support the measure.

Mitsotakis has written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling for EU-level action, saying platforms "need to cooperate" and acknowledge responsibility for addictive product design. Norway has also announced plans to ban social media for under-16s.

Mitsotakis has written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling for EU-level action, saying platforms "need to cooperate" and acknowledge responsibility for addictive product design. Norway has also announced plans to ban social media for under-16s.

Technical hurdles remain significant — hackers reportedly broke the EU's age verification app within minutes after its release. Reddit is also considering age verification, a move that prompted user backlash and concerns about potential surveillance.

Technical hurdles remain significant — hackers reportedly broke the EU's age verification app within minutes after its release. Reddit is also considering age verification, a move that prompted user backlash and concerns about potential surveillance.

Anonymous accounts are the engine behind online toxicity, disinformation and coordinated harassment — and the evidence is overwhelming. For just €300, foreign actors can manufacture thousands of fake interactions to manipulate public debate, and 72% of people who've experienced online abuse were targeted by anonymous or false accounts. Requiring identity verification is a proportionate, democratic fix that protects free expression without silencing anyone.

Anonymous accounts are the engine behind online toxicity, disinformation and coordinated harassment — and the evidence is overwhelming. For just €300, foreign actors can manufacture thousands of fake interactions to manipulate public debate, and 72% of people who've experienced online abuse were targeted by anonymous or false accounts. Requiring identity verification is a proportionate, democratic fix that protects free expression without silencing anyone.

Banning online anonymity doesn't reduce abuse — Twitter's own data showed 99% of suspended abusive accounts weren't anonymous, meaning ID verification would've changed nothing. Whistleblowers, queer youth, activists and researchers depend on pseudonymity for their safety and sometimes their lives. Real-name policies are a lazy, evidence-free fix that punishes the most vulnerable people while doing nothing to address the root causes of online harm.

Banning online anonymity doesn't reduce abuse — Twitter's own data showed 99% of suspended abusive accounts weren't anonymous, meaning ID verification would've changed nothing. Whistleblowers, queer youth, activists and researchers depend on pseudonymity for their safety and sometimes their lives. Real-name policies are a lazy, evidence-free fix that punishes the most vulnerable people while doing nothing to address the root causes of online harm.

AI: Crime and Social Issues

Greece Pushes Social Media ID Verification Law

Greece

Politics

Media

Curbing the excesses of online anonymity is crucial to tackling the toxicity rampant on social media. As the evidence overwhelmingly shows, anonymous accounts are the engine behind the worst digital behaviors and activity. Requiring identity verification, therefore, is a proportionate, democratic fix that protects free expression without silencing anyone.

Curbing the excesses of online anonymity is crucial to tackling the toxicity rampant on social media. As the evidence overwhelmingly shows, anonymous accounts are the engine behind the worst digital behaviors and activity. Requiring identity verification, therefore, is a proportionate, democratic fix that protects free expression without silencing anyone.

Banning online anonymity will not reduce abuse; instead, it will expose the most vulnerable to increased risk. Whistleblowers, journalists, LGBTQ+ youth, activists and researchers, for example, all depend on pseudonymity for their safety and sometimes their lives. Curbing these protections would only endanger these individuals for no tangible benefit.

Banning online anonymity will not reduce abuse; instead, it will expose the most vulnerable to increased risk. Whistleblowers, journalists, LGBTQ+ youth, activists and researchers, for example, all depend on pseudonymity for their safety and sometimes their lives. Curbing these protections would only endanger these individuals for no tangible benefit.

There is a 21% chance that the EU will require mandatory age verification on social media or AI before 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 21% chance that the EU will require mandatory age verification on social media or AI before 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Greece Pushes Social Media ID Verification

Greece Pushes Social Media ID Verification Law

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Greece Pushes Social Media ID Verification

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