Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Our meeting today is with Ms Frances Haugen who is a Facebook whistleblower. The specific theme of today's meeting is to discuss online disinformation and media literacy. Ms Haugen is very welcome and I thank her for joining the meeting today despite time differences and everything else. There is huge interest in what she has to say to the committee. As she knows, we have been working on the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill. We have heard a lot of what she has had to say through the media internationally and in Ireland. Ms Haugen is very welcome and we look forward to hearing what she has to say. I hope she can bear with me as I have some housekeeping to go through.

I remind members the format of the meeting is that I will invite our witness to deliver her opening speech, which has been limited to five minutes, and this will be followed by questions from the members. The committee may publish the opening statement on our web page. Before I invite Ms Haugen to deliver her opening speech, I want to explain some limitations on parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards to references made to other persons in evidence.

The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence within the parliamentary precincts is protected pursuant to the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. Ms Haugen is reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that she should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of that person or entity. Therefore, if her statement is potentially defamatory in relation to any identifiable person or entity, she will be directed to discontinue her remarks. Witnesses participating in the committee session from a jurisdiction outside the State are advised they should be mindful of their domestic law and how it may applied to the evidence they give.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present in the confines of Leinster House to participate in public meetings. I cannot permit members to attend unless they adhere to that constitutional requirement.

I remind members if contributing via Microsoft Teams to identify themselves when contributing for the benefit of the Debates Office staff preparing the Official Report. I ask members to mute their microphones when they are not contributing to reduce the background noise. I remind them to ensure their mobile phones are switched off or on silent.

It is a pleasure to have Ms Haugen with us today, albeit virtually. We know she is speaking to us from the other side of the world and we very much appreciate her taking the time to be with us. This particular debate and conversation with the committee is on disinformation, misinformation and online platforms. We are really looking forward to hearing Ms Haugen's views and ideas on obligations we may mandate on social media platforms to protect users. This is the main ethos and theme of our discussion. With this, I open the floor to Ms Haugen and ask her to make her opening statement.