European Union: Entry into force with grace period of EU Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence

On 13 June 2024, the EU Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence entered into force with a grace period. The Directive criminalises various forms of violence against women, including online abuse, and ensures support for victims. Specifically, the Directive requires Member States to criminalise the online non-consensual sharing of intimate materials and the manipulation of material such as to make it appear, for instance, that a person engages in sexually explicit activities. Further, the Directive criminalises online stalking, various forms of online harassment, and online incitement to hatred and violence. The Member states are required to transpose the Directive in their national legislation by 14 June 2027.