Efus joins an EU-funded project seeking to deliver practical guidance and support
April 2026 – Insults, threats, offensive memes, defamation, disinformation… We all see our digital world increasingly becoming a Wild West arena ripe with verbal violence. It affects anyone with a public persona or a public-facing job, but more so political and law enforcement representatives. The problem is that this violence spills onto the real world, with sometimes serious or even fatal consequences.
Local politicians most affected
In an October 2025 briefing note on Violence against politicians in the EU, the European Parliament notes that, “abuse, threats and intimidation both online and offline have become part of EU politicians’ everyday life” and that “local politicians are the most severely affected by this worrisome phenomenon”.
One recent example is the March municipal elections in France, where 2,501 incidents of violence or anti-social behaviour targeting local elected representatives were recorded by the French government’s Centre for the Analysis and Prevention of Attacks on Elected Representatives (CALAE). This amounts to an average of 30 to 40 incidents per week across the country.
Call for testimonials: share your story and make a difference
We are looking for public-facing professionals willing to share their experience, whether as victim, witness, or someone supporting those affected.
Your story can make a real difference and contribute to shaping national and European legislation. Efus will conduct strictly confidential interviews with full respect for your privacy and personal data.
If you are interested, please contact us at kaouech@urbansecurity.org so we can schedule an online meeting.
Police officers and their families
Regarding violence against law enforcement professionals, the European Confederation of Police (Eurocop), which represents 30 police unions and staff organisations across 25 European countries, observes that attacks often include “targeted harassment, the sharing of personal information, and threats against officers and their families.” Furthermore, “hybrid threats combining online and physical violence are increasing, particularly in countries like Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and Sweden.”
These attacks don’t just affect individuals. They erode public trust in democratic institutions and open debate.
Why it matters
If left unaddressed, such dynamics risk discouraging public engagement and weakening democratic participation at the local level, thus impacting Europe’s democratic fabric and civic resilience. Indeed, these attacks don’t just affect individuals. They undermine well-being, suppress professional activity, and erode public trust in democratic institutions and open debate. Online risks to public-facing professionals and their impact on open society are a shared concern across Europe, yet efforts to address them remain fragmented, complex, and often reactive.
What we can do
Because Efus works every day with local authorities across Europe on issues of urban security that involve law enforcement and because many of our members are increasingly concerned about online violence, we have joined as partners an EU-funded project that seeks to provide practical tools and guidance to public-facing professionals, as well as policy recommendations.
Practical tools
Titled OSPREY (Online Safety and Security for the Protection of Public-Facing Professionals and Democratic Resilience) and led by the University of Sheffield (UK), this three-year project (2025-2028) will:
- deliver advanced analytics, risk assessment, and digital forensics tools for law enforcement and institutions,
- strengthen practical guidance and support for public-facing professionals and their families,
- contribute to policy development, promoting stronger platform accountability and better legal protections.
With the overall aim of “strengthening democratic resilience by protecting those who serve the public in an increasingly hostile online environment” OSPREY brings together 17 partners across 12 countries spanning research institutions, law enforcement, government bodies, civil society and cybersecurity experts.
> More on the OSPREY project here and here
> Efus’ work on polarisation and radicalisation
> European Parliament, briefing note on Violence against politicians in the EU (October 2025)
> CALAE – French Ministry of the Interior’s Centre for the Analysis and Prevention of Attacks on Elected Representatives – 2025 Annual Report (in French)
> United Nations – Political violence against MPs rising worldwide
Photo at the top ©iStock islander11
