Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If we consider the traditional model of how media used to operate, we will note it was very clear that newspapers and broadcasters who reported on the news were subject to particular standards and expected to uphold them. The difficulty at the moment is that we effectively have the Wild West. This Bill and the Digital Services Act have been trying to put some guardrails in place. I agree with Senator Higgins that we constantly need to review the trusted flaggers and vetted researchers. I disagree strongly with Senator Keogan that they do not have a place. They have a very valuable place in our society. If we do not have them in place, we will leave control to the very large platforms and, more frequently, the whims of their owners. They already have what you might call their own trusted-flagging or vetted-research system in place, with their own content moderation systems, over which we have no control. To allow a system in which we do not have the proposed model in place essentially leaves us at the whim of Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg and allows them to determine what we can and cannot see. It is critical, therefore, to have mechanisms that allow us to look under the bonnet and have accountability. I am not happy with the idea of every decision in this regard being entrusted, for the most part, to a small number of wealthy white men, mostly from outside the State and European Union. The proposal will allow a very fair system entailing a rigorous system, put in place by an coimisiún, to test who the trusted people are and hold them to account. Yes, it does require review. I agree with Senator Higgins in that I believe The Journalhas done very good work in that regard. It will be more important in the era of artificial intelligence, deep fakes and greater levels of information and disinformation to have systems in place to tackle and challenge some of these problems. This is about ensuring fact and truth are protected.

I oppose Senator Keogan's amendments in this regard. We need to have the safeguards that are in place. I am not one of those who adhere to St. Elon Musk and to the view we should trust everything that he says. I do not believe in that gospel; I actually believe in having trusted, independent, vetted researchers regulated through a State mechanism. I have far more faith in the Government than I would necessarily in wealthy white men from outside the State.