Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 July 2021
180. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will consider bringing in regulations that would make digitally altered photographs illegal for advertising purposes unless the photographs were clearly labelled as edited. [38875/21]
View answerI have no function in relation to the regulation of photography, digital editing of photographic material or advertising in general. Section 42 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2007 provides for a general prohibition of misleading commercial practices, including in relation to the provision of false, misleading or deceptive information. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, is responsible for enforcing this statutory provision and other like provisions.
In relation to broadcast advertising, section 42 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009, provides the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the power to set standards for advertising carried by broadcasters through binding codes. The Authority is independent in the exercise of its functions.
In relation to commercial online advertising, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill will provide a new Media Commission, which will replace the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, with the power to set standards for such advertising on video on-demand services and broadcast services through Media Codes and Rules and for certain regulated online services through Online Safety Codes. Detailed legal drafting of the Bill by the Office of the Attorney General is progressing well and the General Scheme of the Bill is currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee.
