Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2024
102. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media ifs he will provide an update on the Programme for Government commitment to develop a research programme around the concept of duty of care and the public interest in the design of online platforms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10936/24]
View answer103. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on the Programme for Government commitment to develop a research programme around the consequences, benefits and potential harms to society and children specifically of digital activity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10937/24]
View answer104. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will outline her work towards regulating harmful content and creating a safer environment online for children and young people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10938/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 102, 103 and 104 together.
In terms of regulating harmful content and creating a safer environment online for children and young people, in December 2022, in line with the Programme for Government commitment, the Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Bill was enacted. In March 2023, the Act was commenced, Coimisiún na Meán established and an Executive Chairperson and four Commissioners, including an Online Safety Commissioner, formally appointed.
The functions of An Coimisiún include the development and enforcement of a new regulatory framework for online safety, thereby bringing to an end the era of self-regulation for many online services. An Coimisiún is in the process of finalising its first binding online safety code under this regulatory framework, having published a draft for public consultation on 8 December 2023 and was closed on 31 January 2024.
Broadly, the draft code would provide for obligations on video-sharing platform services with the aim of minimising the availability and exposure of users, and particularly children, to some of the most serious forms of harmful online content.
In terms of research programmes around the concept of duty of care and the public interest in the design of online platforms and the consequences, benefits and potential harms to society and children specifically of digital activity, as part of its functions, An Coimisiún may also conduct or commission research.
In this regard, in December 2023, An Coimisiún published research in relation to usage patterns of social media apps and websites, and attitudes toward online safety, as well as an Online Harms Evidence Review, particularly as these matters affect children.
An Coimisiún also has a role in carrying out educational initiatives, including in relation to online safety issues. For example, in September 2023, the Online Safety Commissioner launched the new Webwise Junior Cycle SPHE Unit of Learning, called ‘The Respect Effect’. This is an anti-bullying educational resource designed to empower students to take positive action against online bullying, develop their resilience, and help them to understand the impacts of cyberbullying.
In addition, under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), An Coimisiún is Ireland's Digital Services Coordinator. Digital Services Coordinators are national authorities designated by the EU Member States to supervise, enforce and monitor the implementation of the DSA.
Under the DSA, providers of online platforms that are accessible to minors are required to put in place appropriate measures to ensure high level of privacy, safety and security of minors on their service. For example, the DSA also prohibits targeted advertising to minors based on profiling using their personal data of users of their services when they can establish with reasonable certainty that the recipient of the service is a minor.
The OSMR Act and the DSA are landmark pieces of legislation which together mark the end of the era of self-regulation by online platforms and are the building blocks for a new online safety regulatory framework which will help keep our children safe online.
