Greece gears up to outlaw anonymity on social media, a move aimed at cutting rising toxicity. Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou framed the policy as a return to ancient Greek ideals of public discourse where opinions were voiced by name. The proposal now sits in the office of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and follows months of debate.

Papastergiou cited the current political climate, where anonymous accounts fuel coordinated harassment, fake news, threats, and hate speech. Law enforcement has struggled to identify offenders, while some anonymous users still promote specific political figures. The minister argues that verified identities could curb character assassination without legal recourse.

Deputy Prime Minister Pavlos Marinakis clarified that the initiative would not abolish pseudonyms but require every profile to represent a real person. He left open the possibility of extending verification beyond social platforms to signed online articles. Implementing the rule, however, hinges on legal frameworks and the willingness of tech giants to alter their business models.

The proposal arrives just before Greece’s 2027 national elections, as campaigning has unofficially begun. Critics warn that technical complexity could stall progress and that an EU‑wide approach might be more practical, raising concerns over freedom of speech. Regardless, the government insists that protecting a public sphere free from toxicity outweighs potential costs.