Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

966.To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress to date in introducing measures to counteract misinformation, disinformation and abuse on social media platforms; if additional measures are proposed; when same will be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33200/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Future of Media Commission recommended the development of a strategy for a more coordinated whole of Government and society approach to combat the damaging impact of disinformation on Irish society and democracy. The Working Group tasked with developing the Strategy was established in February 2023. It is independently chaired and comprises representatives from Government Departments, public bodies, industry, academia and civil society, with coordination being provided by my Department.

The Working Group has met frequently since its establishment in February 2023 and has heard from a range of experts in different fields related to disinformation and held an online public consultation process that ran from 25 September to 20 October 2023. In addition, a wide stakeholder consultation event was held on 29 November 2023.

The strategy takes a rights-based approach based on key principles, which include protecting freedom of expression; building resilience through education/media literacy; supporting quality journalism and the provision of reliable public interest information; regulatory enforcement, and research on what does and does not work in combatting this complex problem. Drafting of the strategy is now at an advanced stage and it is intended that it will be approved by Government and published as soon as practicable in the autumn.

More information on the development of the Strategy is available at

In relation to electoral disinformation, Ireland’s Electoral Reform Act established a new statutory independent Electoral Commission (An Coimisiún Toghcháin) responsible for protecting the fairness and integrity of elections. The Act contains definitions of what constitutes electoral disinformation and the Commission will have enforcement powers (under Part V) in relation to these during electoral periods. This Part has not yet been commenced as the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are engaging with the European Commission on how best to implement these provisions.

In relation to online safety more broadly, in March 2023, a new independent online safety and media regulator, known as Coimisiún na Meán, was established under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act. An Coimisiún’s mission is the application and enforcement of a new regulatory framework for online safety. As part of the framework, An Coimisiún is developing online safety codes with a view to reducing user exposure to harmful online content, incitement to hatred and violence, including serious cyber-bullying material and material that promotes eating disorders, self-harm or suicide.

Following consultation, An Coimisiún published a revised draft online safety code on 27 May and notified it to the European Commission on the same date for formal review. As well as protections from harmful online content, it provides for measures around the use of age-verification techniques, in particular to protect children from exposure to pornography, and the operation of effective reporting mechanisms. This code will apply to designated video-sharing platform services such as YouTube, Facebook and Instagram later this year. Under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, a failure to comply with an online safety code can lead to imposition of financial sanctions of up to €20 million or 10% of relevant turnover.

The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) is also a landmark development in terms of the regulation of online services. For instance, Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines must complete risk assessments in relation to the risk of exposure of their users to illegal online content, age-inappropriate content, disinformation and to mitigate these risks. The penalties for a breach of the Digital Services Act are up to 6% of global turnover. Over time, these robust enforcement powers will ensure effective engagement and compliance with the regulatory measures.

The DSA also establishes a framework for cooperation between the European Commission and Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs) in each Member State. Ireland’s DSC is Coimisiún na Meán. The European Commission leads on overseeing the largest platform and search engines, and An Coimisiún will support this oversight and regulate other services that have their European headquarters in Ireland.