20 Márta 2013, 16:09
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this morning concluded its public hearings on the challenges facing individuals, families and communities from the rise of social media, including the challenges posed by cyber-bullying and online harassment.
20 March 2013
Representatives from Google and Digital Rights Ireland were before the Committee. Sue Duke and Sabine Frank of Google outlined the extraordinary growth of the YouTube platform since its establishment in 2005. TJ McIntyre of Digital Rights Ireland told the Committee that existing legislation is sufficient to cover incidents of bullying and harassment in online communication.
Chairman of the Committee Tom Hayes TD says: \"We thank Google and Digital Rights Ireland representatives for detailed and thought-provoking presentations, both of which underlined the fact that the vast majority of activity on social media channels are a force for good. With 72 hours of video uploaded on YouTube every minute, Committee Members asked Google representatives how the content is monitored and moderated. Ms Duke and Ms Frank said that the online community of YouTube users played a central role in reporting inappropriate and offensive content. The Committee was told about Google's education programmes, and we take on board the role of Government in ensuring that the teaching of digital literacy was firmly embedded in schools. The tools available to parents to ensure children behaved responsibly online were also highlighted.
\"Digital Rights Ireland expanded on their earlier written submission to the Committee, which argued that existing legislation is sufficient to cover incidents of bullying and harassment in online communication. We heard that measures could be put in place for ordinary citizens to seek redress without having to endure the expense of court proceedings, including improved funding for the Data Protection Commissioner to serve as a cost-effective channel for complaints. We also heard that anonymity has served a socially useful purpose in the past and we take on board the danger inherent in any new measures which might deter whistleblowers from highlighting wrongs in the public interest. The detailed discussions this morning will serve to further inform a report the Committee intends to publish on the matter.”
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +353 1 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan