Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I am definitely going to say apologies if I do, and the witnesses should feel free not to answer, but I do not really mean it. That is my level of disinformation and misinformation.

Some 90% of complaints are coming through Coimisiún na Meán on the basis, obviously, of us being home to some of the online platforms. This is a follow-on from my previous question. It is the interaction the coimisiún has had to date. Dr. Evans said the framework is there, and he has spoken about what people have to do if they see something that falls into a bracket they consider an issue.

My fear is that the entities with the resources and capacity to deal with this, if they really wanted to, are the online platforms. Given the human resources they have, and in this age of AI, they can catch a lot of this if they want to do so. The problem for them with changing the algorithms is that they make far too much money from them. I acknowledge there is a consideration in relation to the European Commission and the Government in that some of these platforms are very big entities from an employment and taxation point of view, etc.

However, at this point, we all are aware that incredibly detrimental information is out there, particularly some of the stuff getting to young men, whether we are talking about misogynistic material or content that is entirely untrue. While people have an absolute right to have conversations on migration, for example, we have seen total untruths being published. With the telling of the lie, it becomes more normalised and acceptable. People might ask what even is the truth at this point, and that is a dangerous place. Young girls are sometimes driven down a particular rabbit hole regarding eating disorders and whatever else, which is utterly wrong and terrible in many ways. That will continue until these companies decide to take action. Fighting them, whether it is the coimisiún or others across the European Commission doing so, will be incredibly difficult.

How can the Government make the coimisiún's job easier by way of resourcing and whatever else? What needs to be done in that regard? I am incredibly worried. Will Dr. Evans talk about some of the engagement he has had with some of the platforms?