Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Of course we need to challenge them, but I am sure that family would disagree that they have to be the centre of that challenge. I would like to broaden the discussion. Last week witnesses mentioned account verification as a key issue for all of the platforms represented here. Of course freedom of expression is extremely important, but does anonymity on these platforms allow for a lot of the hateful issues we are talking about? Have the witnesses' companies looked at moving their account structures to a verified model? A lot of other platforms, such as membership clubs, have proper verification systems that are relatively simple and accurate. I accept that some people will circumvent those, but the majority will not because the barriers would not be as soft as the current ones. The view of law enforcement and the NGOs that testified here was that account verification could play a huge role in creating a better online space. Do the witnesses agree with that? I know they do not agree with the publisher concept, which I have issues with. These are currently community platforms. How would the witnesses feel about a legal obligation to verify all accounts and a responsibility to provide information relating to them? I will ask each witness to respond.