Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2022
234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent and context of any engagements she has had with media interests with particular reference to the need to protect the privacy of the individual and protect adults, children and the vulnerable from cyber-abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32768/22]
View answerMatters relating to data protection and the disclosure of personal data without authority are set out in Data Protection Act 2018, which is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice.
As regards types of cyber-abuse which do not relate to the protection of personal data, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill will address certain forms of harmful online content. The Bill provides for the dissolution of the BAI and establishment of a new regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, which will oversee updated regulatory frameworks for broadcasting and video-on-demand service and a new regulatory framework for online safety.
To oversee the regulatory framework for online safety, Coimisiún na Meán will include an Online Safety Commissioner, whose goal will be to minimise the availability of defined categories of harmful online content through binding online safety codes, including categories of offence-specific content, serious cyberbullying content, content promoting self-harm and suicide and content promoting eating disorders.
There has been comprehensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders in respect of the Bill. In this context, during the development of the General Scheme of the OSMR Bill, my Department held a public consultation to inform drafting of the proposed Bill and a virtual workshop on the regulatory framework for online safety. The responses to the public consultation, including the names of the consultees, may be found on the gov.ie website at the following address:
www.gov.ie/en/consultation/430d0-regulation-of-harmful-online-content-and-the-implementation-of-the-revised-audiovisual-media-services-directive/.
My officials continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders regarding the Bill as it passes through the Houses of the Oireachtas.
