'Make catfishing specific criminal offence' - Senator

The online practice of catfishing should be a specific criminal offence as part of a drive against digital violence against women, says Senator Fiona O'Loughlin. She makes the call on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The theme of the UN-designated day this year is the escalating reality of digital abuse against women. Senator O’Loughlin said Ireland must respond by updating its laws to reflect how violence against women is evolving. "We need to make our legal system fit for the digital age and protect women from abuse that is every bit as damaging as what happens offline," she says in a statement. 

Senator O’Loughlin reintroduced her Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Bill 2025 last April. The legislation would make catfishing a standalone criminal offence, allowing An Garda Síochána to properly investigate and act where individuals are harmed by online deception.

The bill would also give victims whose identities have been stolen a clear legal route to access data from dating apps and social media platforms. "This is information many companies currently withhold unless compelled by a court order," the senator says. "As a result, victims are often left without any means to remove stolen images or to find out what has been done in their name."

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