Greece advances plan to link social media accounts to real identities

The Greek government is advancing plans to end anonymity on social media platforms, as part of efforts to curb online toxicity, hate speech and coordinated harassment, according to officials.

The initiative is being led by Dimitris Papastergiou, the minister of digital governance, who said anonymous accounts are a key driver of abusive behaviour across digital platforms.

“In ancient Greece, citizens expressed their opinions openly and by name. This principle should inspire our digital democracy today,” Papastergiou said during remarks to Euractiv on the sidelines of the Delphi Economic Forum.

The proposal is being handled at the highest level of government, within the office of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as the country prepares for national elections scheduled for early 2027.

Government rationale

Greek officials say anonymity has contributed to a deterioration in online discourse, with social media platforms increasingly used for threats, character attacks, misinformation and political manipulation.

Papastergiou argued that freedom of expression should not equate to a lack of accountability.

“The major problem behind anonymity is toxicity. Anyone can smear an individual and carry out character assassination without facing any consequences,” he said.

Authorities have also pointed to difficulties faced by law enforcement in identifying individuals responsible for illegal online activity conducted through anonymous accounts.

According to the government, anonymous profiles have in some cases been used to promote political messaging or target individuals without traceability.

Proposed framework

Under the plans, the government does not intend to prohibit the use of pseudonyms outright. Instead, it aims to ensure that each social media account is linked to a verifiable real identity.

Pavlos Marinakis said the objective is to maintain flexibility for users while introducing accountability mechanisms.

The proposal would require platforms to adopt identity verification systems, although the precise technical framework has not yet been detailed.

Papastergiou said there are “many technical ways” to implement such verification requirements, while acknowledging that major platforms may resist changes that could affect their business models, which often rely on large numbers of accounts.

Implementation challenges

Questions remain over how the policy could be implemented in practice, particularly in terms of legal feasibility and technical enforcement.

Critics, including digital rights advocates, have raised concerns that restricting anonymity could have implications for freedom of expression, especially for users who rely on anonymity for safety or political reasons.

Papastergiou acknowledged that social media companies benefit from maintaining anonymous or multiple accounts, but said the government must prioritise the protection of democratic processes and public discourse.

“We must do what we are committed to – safeguarding democracy and fostering a public sphere free from toxicity,” he said.

European dimension

Greek officials have indicated that a broader European Union framework may be more effective than a national approach alone.

The minister suggested that coordinated EU-level regulation could provide a more consistent and enforceable system for identity verification across platforms operating in multiple jurisdictions.

The proposal comes amid wider discussions within the EU on regulating social media, including measures aimed at protecting minors online. Greek officials have previously supported stricter rules, including a potential ban on social media use for children under the age of 15.

Political context

The debate over anonymity is unfolding ahead of Greece’s next general election, due in early 2027, with political campaigning already beginning to intensify.

Officials say the initiative is part of broader efforts to address the impact of online behaviour on public life, particularly as political discourse increasingly takes place on digital platforms.

The government has not yet announced a timeline for introducing legislation, and discussions are expected to continue as technical, legal and political considerations are assessed.