Mr. Dualta Ó Broin:

Freedom of expression is one right but the system in place at Facebook is a rights balancing one. Our community standards are an exercise in rights balancing. There are rights to be considered on the one hand, but if a user engages in certain types of behaviour, other things will also be taken into consideration in coming to an outcome. Freedom of expression is important, but we are demonstrating Facebook's experience of rights balancing over the past 14 years.

We are also saying that Facebook would welcome governments, legislators and policymakers critically reviewing where we have drawn the lines in our community standards. We are open to being told where we are and where we should be going further. There may be places where we are doing more than legislators and policymakers would have been satisfied with. The goal is to come to an acceptance of how, as a whole, we are going to deal with the issue of harmful online content. As I said, that is not putting the onus back on society. We have a significant role in this and intend to play it, but we need input and guidance. People such as those on the committee will ultimately decide what will and will not be allowed.