Media regulator Coimisiún na Meán will formally launch Ireland’s Online Safety Code following the conclusion of an assessment by the European Commission.
The rules will apply to video-sharing platforms that have their EU headquarters in Ireland.
The code will be legally binding, and companies will face fines of up to €20 million for breaches of the rules.
Social media firms will have to protect children from specific types of harmful online material including cyberbullying, as well as content that promotes eating disorders and self-harm or suicide.
Platforms will have to prevent the uploading or sharing of a range of illegal content, including incitement to hatred or violence.
Tech companies will have to use age assurance to prevent children from encountering pornography or gratuitous violence online.
They will also have to provide parental controls for content which may impair the physical, mental, or moral development of children under 16.
Digital Services Act
Coimisiún na Meán is also responsible for the Irish implementation of the EU’s set of online safety rules known as the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The DSA requires big tech firms to do more to police illegal and harmful content on their platforms, including restricting the spread of disinformation, quickly removing illegal content and better protecting children using the internet.
The Online Safety Code will run alongside the DSA and form part of Ireland’s overall internet safety framework.
Ireland’s code does not specifically cover disinformation but Coimisiún na Meán has said that when disinformation crosses the threshold of being illegal content covered by the DSA, or regulated content under the code, platforms must prevent it being uploaded or shared.
Platforms covered by the code
In January, Coimisiún na Meán named the ten video-sharing platforms that will be covered by the Online Safety Code.
They are Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Udemy, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, Pinterest, Tumblr and Reddit.
Tumblr and Reddit both took High Court actions against Coimisiún na Meán arguing that they should not be designated as video-sharing platforms.
Although Snapchat is incredibly popular among young people, it is not included on the list of designated platforms.
This is because it does not have its EU headquarters in Ireland.
Asked about regulating Snapchat, Coimisiún na Meán has said it will be working closely with its regulatory counterparts in other EU member states to hold platforms to account for how they keep their users safe.
Recommender Systems
Recommender systems are algorithms that determine what social media users see based on personal data such as search history, past purchases, age and location.
Campaign groups and researchers have warned that these algorithms can be ‘toxic’ and often result in inappropriate content appearing in users’ feeds promoting things like hate, extremism, eating disorders and self-harm.
These algorithms were not covered by an updated draft Online Safety Code published earlier this year.
Coimisiún na Meán has said that while it recognises that recommender systems can have harmful impacts on users, especially children, it will be best able to tackle the potential dangers of these systems through its implementation of the EU’s Digital Services Act.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said he welcomed today’s publication of the finalised Online Safety Code.
“I am really pleased that the Online Safety Code can now be adopted by Coimisiún na Meán, marking the end of an era of social media self-regulation,” Mr Harris said.
“The Online Safety Code sends a strong message to social media platforms that they will be held accountable for how they protect those who use their sites from harmful video content,” he added.
Article Source – Coimisiún na Meán to launch Online Safety Code – RTE