Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is welcome. Sinn Féin is supportive of this Bill and the EU Digital Services Act as it seeks to regulate very large online platforms and provide a more equitable online environment. The Bill aims to address illegal and harmful content. It is hoped it will also rein in the powers of big tech and give Internet users a bit more control over their digital lives. Given the rise in disinformation and harmful content on social media and various online platforms, it is essential this legislation is effective and robust, but it also has to ensure the balance between protection from harmful content and, at the same time, protecting freedom of speech. In recent weeks, since the outbreak of Israel's war on the people of Palestine, there have been concerns about the use of the EU Digital Services Act in respect of the digital rights of Palestinians and other vulnerable communities.Online information has been taken down amid accusations that it constitutes harmful content or disinformation. The person who posted it must then open a complaint and prove the content is legitimate and valid. This highlights how the EU Digital Services Act could potentially be applied with political bias. It shows how the interpretation of this information can be politically applied. We only have to look at the statement from Commissioner Thierry Breton warning X, Meta and TikTok and reminding those companies of their obligations under the Digital Services Act with regard to the war in Palestine. The problem, of course, lies in the framing by the Commissioner and the EU of the situation, which ignores the Palestinian perspective and the ongoing human rights violations. It is fair to say the European Union has disgraced itself when it comes to Palestine.

It is a relief that Ireland has not been swayed by the narrative and that Irish people, media and politicians have been generally even-handed and fair in their analysis of the current conflict. I do not think the Irish people would let the Government away with bias in relation to the horrors being visited upon the people of Palestine by the apartheid Israeli Government. As I said, there is a balance that needs to be struck, and that is not easy. I welcome that individuals can appeal a decision that has removed their content, and that there are processes to help with this type of undertaking. This Bill is about ensuring a safer online environment for people who use social media and the Internet in general.

We all enjoy great advantages from using online platforms and media and the ability to have so much information right there at our fingertips. However, social media and video platforms also have a very dark side, and this is why we need much more advanced regulation. I am not sure how effective this legislation will really be regarding the specific issue of the damage online content is having on our children's mental health and well-being, but I hope it will have some impact and that we will continue to work harder to protect vulnerable users, including children, from harmful content.

We must also ensure that very large online platforms take responsibility for cracking down on online scams and fraudsters. Another major issue we are seeing is the spread of disinformation and all kinds of lies and far-fetched conspiracy theories. Indeed, Senator Keogan will be well acquainted with some of these. The more the lies are shared as if they were true, of course, the more people start to believe them. Unfortunately, trying to counteract the lies afterwards is a much more difficult and slower process.

There needs, therefore, to be much more accountability on the part of the platforms, including X, formerly Twitter, TikTok and Facebook. Many of these platforms are headquartered in Ireland, as the Minister of State acknowledged, and we do have a role to play here. In fact, 13 of these very large online platforms are established here. This means we have a critical and high-profile role in supporting the EU Commission in regulating them. My colleague Deputy Louise O'Reilly brought forward amendments in the Dáil, and we might have another look at those in this House. As I said, though, we do support this legislation. I apologise because I have to attend another meeting now, so I will not be here to hear the response from the Minister of State. I will, though, certainly follow it up afterwards.