Senator demands online issue be taken seriously

And yet, here in Ireland, we still don't have a law that directly criminalises catfishing.

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That's what I'm trying to change.

Last week, my bill that would make catfishing a standalone criminal offence entered committee stage in the Oireachtas.

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Right now, victims often have no legal recourse. They can't force social media companies to hand over the identity of offenders.

They can't always remove images or accounts being used in their name. And Gardai lack a clear legal pathway to pursue cases where deception is the primary tool of harm.

My bill - the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Bill 2025 - would change that.