Coco's Law: Schools Teach Online Offenses

0:00It's March 27, Europe news today starts now, AI powered and always on. Students at our Lady of Mercy Secondary School in DreamNaw got a special lesson today on online offenses, focusing on the rules against sharing, intimate images without consent. This falls under Coco's law, a key part of Ireland's efforts to tackle cyberbullying and harmful online behavior. The session comes from a fresh push by the Gartis Schools Program, which has been running since 1991 alongside the education, Department's Health syllabus. It breaks down the harassment harmful communications and related offenses act of 2020, named after Nicole Fox, a young cyberbullying victim, known as Coco, family members and officials share strong thoughts on the event. Nicole's mother highlighted how education gives the law its real strength, potentially preventing future tragedies. The Education Minister stressed that, all-mind safety is a top priority, helping kids make smart choices and know where to get help.

1:02Law enforcement has already seen results, with over 400 charges filed under Coco's law in more than 1,800 reports of, harmful communications since 2023. Penalties are tough, up to seven years in prison for sharing images meant to harm or 12 months in a 5,000-year-old fine otherwise. As Gartis leaders put it, we move past basic internet tips into real-legal accountability for everyone online, making these school talks a vital step forward.