Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 183a:

In page 83, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: "Online safety codes: disinformation

139L.(1) Without prejudice to section 139K, the Commission shall ensure that an online safety code in respect of a designated online service shall provide that risks of harm arising from the spread of disinformation are minimised.

(2) Online safety codes as described under subsection (1) may provide for restrictions on, limitations on, or outright banning of disinformation.

(3) In this section, 'disinformation' means verifiably false or misleading information that is created, presented and disseminated for economic gain or to intentionally deceive the public, which may cause public harm, in particular harm to democratic political and policy-making processes.".

These supplementary amendments were submitted on the basis of an issue that has been highlighted over the course of the debate. They all relate to disinformation. Their goal is to recognise that disinformation is not simply problematic because of its impact on the general public but that it can cause harm. Disinformation can be a cause of harm to the individual, for example disinformation on health. We have seen the very serious consequences of disinformation during the Covid pandemic. Disinformation has a wider implication. It can be used to create dangers for individuals based on their groups. Misinformation can be created in terms of categories of persons with regard to nationality. It can be used to encourage people to make poor decisions. It can have political outcomes. It can also have directly personal outcomes.

The Minister mentioned that the digital services directive will look at the issue of disinformation. There is a weird aspect with the Bill because in some ways it reaches into the area of the digital services directive, for example by the inclusion in its provisions of interpersonal communication or cloud storage, which I believe may be inappropriate or premature. In other ways it does not address issues even though there is a significant overlap with the directive. Disinformation is being addressed, considered and recognised as a significant problem at EU level. It is also a source of online harm to individuals. I suggest that perhaps it should be included as something that will be addressed in the online safety codes. The other amendments are consequential. They reiterate this point on disinformation.