Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Digital Services Bill 2023. It is important legislation that will provide the full opportunity for Ireland to implement the EU regulation on a single market for digital services. That EU digital services regulation, more commonly referred to as the EU Digital Services Act, provides a regulatory framework to protect the fundamental rights of users throughout the Union in their engagement with digital services. It is important this legislation is juxtaposed and considered in reference to the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 and that the new functions and responsibilities of Coimisiún na Meán under the EU regulation are closely integrated with the commission's other responsibilities. That is necessary to ensure a coherent framework in Ireland for the regulation of online platforms.

This important legislation impacts on many lives. If we think back to the late 1990s, when the Internet first appeared in people's homes, we remember having to wait five or six minutes for the crackling dialling sound before, suddenly, we were online and connected to the world. We have moved on a lot since then. It is not a criticism of Ireland but of the world that we have waited two or three decades to introduce regulations to enforce requirements around what happens online. Unfortunately, people conduct themselves quite differently when they are hiding behind a screen, whether a laptop, desktop or mobile telephone device. Social media is a fabulous tool that has enabled us all to become far more connected as a society. It is lovely to connect with former schoolmates and college friends online. Previously, people would have to wait for their class reunion every ten years. Now we can see what people are doing and even what they are having for breakfast, which is somewhat absurd.

Along with all the benefits of that social connectivity, we have platforms like X, formerly Twitter, where it is a free-for-all and open shooting season. I would not dare to put up a picture of my family or post about anything nice happening in my personal life on that platform because the storm of abuse that comes these days is absolutely appalling. If the owner of X will not take responsibility, which certainly seems to be the case, it behoves governments like ours and those in other countries to have robust laws in place. We all in this House have been very much at the receiving end of abuse. Many young people who are considering a life in politics should scroll down through some of the social media channels to see what is posted there. It is often necessary to mute or block the whole lot.

As I said, this is important legislation that certainly will impact on people's lives. It is about playing our part, in step with other EU countries. Much more can be done globally to rein in some of the types of Wild West scenarios that still exist on social media.

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