Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If the Deputy is suggesting that somebody is doing this, maybe she should call it out, if there is validity to it. More generally, public representatives should be upfront and transparent in their communications. In my view, no public representative or political party should be creating a bot machine, or a whole series of approaches that facilitate trending and the creation of false news or misinformation.

In whatever legislation emerges, there will have to be a balance between the right to free speech, the right to proper debate and the need to avoid undermining our democracy and our electoral system. That is why the Electoral Commission, which has now been established, has been given specific powers in respect of online manipulation and online misinformation about people and politics. In the context of a general election campaign, in particular, the chance for an individual or political party to respond is limited. The damage can be done before polling day if fake profiles, or misleading information with regard to policies or initiatives, are put up. We saw that in an election in the United States some time ago, when outrageous and false allegations with regard to emails were made in respect of Hillary Clinton and gained traction during that campaign. We have given powers to the Electoral Commission to - at a minimum - call out any untoward action that is wrong and could influence people in the wrong way, particularly when it comes to trending stories and so on.

In a recent case, I was portrayed as supporting an investment product in particular advertisements. What concerned me was that I had to go to the courts to seek an order from Google as to who was behind those advertisements. No one should have to go to court to find out who is behind advertisements or material that is defamatory of an individual in the first instance, and in the second instance could mislead ordinary citizens into losing their money or investing in false products or scams.

There is an evolving situation, generally, in terms of the issue the Deputy raised. To come back to her fundamental point, we are elected public representatives. I do not understand the rationale, or why anybody would want to do this. Normally it is the opposite, if I may say so. Most people here are not shy in seeking publicity and making sure their photographs and titles are in the press releases and various postings that are online. It is a new departure. I understand some people might want to try to do something behind the scenes. That is not right in my view. Public representatives should be transparent, upfront and open.

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