Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This Bill is designed to ensure that social media companies take responsibility for defamatory statements made on their platforms in cases where the companies in question are unable or unwilling to provide the identities of those posting defamatory statements. At the moment, social media allow those who make such statements to hide behind anonymous profiles. In some cases, they are unable or unwilling to identify the poster concern. Social media is operating like the wild west at the moment and this leaves people open to abuse, defamation and other harmful consequences with nobody held liable for the damage caused.

Our hope is that this Bill may encourage social media platforms to take steps to change how they do business regarding defamation in an effort to avoid being sued. If they do not, they will need to face consequences as the burden shifts from the anonymous poster to the social media company and they will become liable.

See this speech in context