Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ward for submitting this very important Topical Issue. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy O’Callaghan. I commend Deputy Ward on his proactivity both here this morning and in the Seanad when he served there. I commend the former Senator, Lisa Chambers, and Deputy Ward on their work on this particular matter.

I acknowledge the important concerns raised by Deputy Ward regarding the dangers posed by online catfishing. He has rightly illustrated and outlined a number of prominent examples we have seen. The Internet has undoubtedly transformed our lives for the better, fostering global connections, enabling remote work and providing vital platforms for communication. This digital transformation has also introduced serious challenges, however, especially when it comes to online safety and personal security.

One of the fundamental risks of online interactions is anonymity. While anonymity can be a force for good in certain contexts, it can also facilitate harmful behaviour, including bullying, stalking, fraud and breaches of privacy. Catfishing exemplifies this darker side of online engagement. As Deputy Ward has said, it is where individuals create false identities to deceive others, often with devastating consequences. Deputy Ward is correct; it is about the damage, the immorality and the fear it creates. Victims of catfishing experience significant emotional distress, financial loss and, in some cases, reputational harm. These cases are not isolated to one victim alone. Those whose identities are stolen also suffer. As more relationships and interactions begin online, it is crucial we explore ways to protect individuals from this deceptive practice. We are talking about people here. I hope the Department will reflect on the points Deputy Ward made in his contribution.

The Government has already taken significant steps to enhance online safety through various regulatory measures. The EU Digital Services Act is a key framework ensuring online platforms take greater responsibility in preventing harmful activities and protecting users. Nationally, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act marked a turning point, shifting the burden from self-regulation to enforceable accountability. Coimisiún na Meán, the new media regulator, has recently adopted its online safety code, which mandates video-sharing platforms to curb harmful content and introduce stronger reporting mechanisms. We all share the view that some of those entities could do a lot more work in that area. In addition, our criminal justice framework has been strengthened. The Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 has broadened harassment laws to include impersonation and the unauthorised disclosure of private information. The Harassment and Harmful Communications Act, or Coco’s Law, further criminalised abusive online behaviour while existing fraud legislation already penalises impersonation for financial gain.

It is essential these laws are fully utilised and enforced. Education and awareness also play a vital role in ensuring Internet users, particularly young people, recognise the signs of deceptive behaviour and protect themselves accordingly.

This debate is an opportunity to reflect on any remaining gaps in our legal and regulatory framework. The Deputy highlighted a number of these, in particular the issue that catfishing is not against the law. It is important we all ensure our response remains robust and that victims of online impersonation have the protections and recourse they deserve.

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