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Online Safety

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021

Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Ceisteanna (103)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

103. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020; if recent increases in conspiracy theory content is being taken into consideration for any such Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21493/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The finalisation of the General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill was approved by Government on 8 December 2020. Detailed legal drafting of a Bill by the Office of the Attorney General is progressing well. The Government has placed the draft Bill on the priority list for publication in the Summer 2021 legislative session.

In addition to this, the Joint Oireachtas Committee has commenced pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Bill including oral hearings beginning on 13 April 2021. The timeline for this work is a matter for the Committee.

The Bill will establish a multi-person Media Commission, including an Online Safety Commissioner. The role of the Commissioner will be to oversee a regulatory framework for online safety.

This will be done through binding online safety codes that will set out how regulated online services, including social media services, are expected to deal with certain defined categories of harmful online content on their platforms. The defined categories of harmful online content include criminal material, serious cyberbullying material and material promoting self-harm, suicide and eating disorders.

There is also provision in the Bill for further categories to be defined, subject to extensive consultation, a proposal from the Media Commission and Oireachtas approval. In order to make such proposals, the Commission will have a general role in researching and taking stock of the prevalence of potentially harmful kinds of content online. In carrying out this role, the Commission will engage with academics, industry and other relevant stakeholders, including through advisory committees.

It is, however, important to note that, while this Bill is both important and timely, it is only one of a number of initiatives at Irish and European level that will tackle harmful online content. This includes the regulation of the transparency of online political advertising through the Electoral Reform Bill and the EU Code of Practice on Disinformation, which is currently being revised as part of the European Democracy Action Plan.  Disinformation will also be addressed in the forthcoming Digital Services Act, currently being negotiated at European level, which the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is leading in respect of Ireland. 

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