Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I will follow on from Deputy Howlin. We are talking about a rapid response to misinformation and disinformation but that is not happening at this point. Mr. Godfrey has, in fairness, taken a bit of a hit from some of the characters online who have put him up as a hate figure. Unfortunately, that is the world we are in. When we are talking about misinformation and disinformation, I have listened to some of the arguments of some of the social media companies. I get some of them. There are things that are obviously facts and other things that are absolute lies. That can, therefore, be dealt with. Other things fall into a different set of circumstances. Anyone who has been watching anything about Irish politics in the past while will have seen numerous instances of people shouting and screaming at others. At some stages, they are shouting about traitors, speaking in general and expressing dislike. My fear about all this stuff is that it has a cumulative impact. The other thing is that Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Meta in general, WhatsApp and all these companies are looking to make money. Therefore, it is going to be incredibly difficult to have any sort of rapid response system. Any of us might go on Facebook or TikTok because we are interested in a particular issue that may be happening in a constituency. Let us say the issue relates to the D Hotel in Drogheda and we look at some of the commentary in that regard. For the next couple of days that we are on Facebook, TikTok or wherever else, we will get a slew of craziness. In some cases, that will mean the meandering of deranged people speaking outside at such locations or in their own sitting rooms.

Some are their general opinions but there are mistruths, lies and all the rest. There is stuff they may believe that is absolutely wrong. It would take a long time to make complaints individually on all of that. I wish to ask about Coimisiún na Meán's engagement with social media companies. We can have all the rules and regulations but they will not work until we can in some way enforce this and they are up for it. The same algorithms that work for them from a business point of view work in selling bile, hate and absolute deranged idiocy. The fear is that when people see this, it becomes a hell of a lot more acceptable. One always worries about what the next step is. As everybody moves one step or what was not acceptable yesterday becomes acceptable, my fear is that the next thing is not just get your hands on me, it is literally assaulting someone or far worse. What is Coimisiún na Meán's engagement? The electoral commission was before the committee and its representatives said they had fairly good opening conversations with the social media companies but I have seen nothing change. Social media are an absolute sewer at this point. There will be nothing but mistruths, disinformation and misinformation the whole way right through an election. There is an element of David and Goliath, them being Goliath and Coimisiún na Meán not even having a slingshot.