Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We probably all agree that social media platforms have played a positive role in our lives in general and in how we communicate with other and stay in touch with friends. However, they also pose significant challenges and threats. The negativity we are seeing on social media platforms has grown quickly. One of the biggest challenges is identifying what is harmful content and what is illegal content. The people the Deputy has referenced as instigators and agitators know where that line is and know not to cross it. They know where to stop so their behaviour does not move into the space of illegal content.

This is why Coimisiún na Meán is so important. Identifying exactly what is harmful content is really important, as is the way in which the companies then engage proactively with the coimisiún. There has been and was a level of engagement with Coimisiún na Meán in the days following the riots but it is at the early stages. What people need to see is that where take-down requests are made regarding information that is clearly harmful, it is taken down and, if not, the companies receive the fines that we have set out.

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