Ireland adopts new online safety code to protect users

Ireland has introduced a new online safety code aimed at restricting harmful content on video-sharing platforms. The code, which will apply starting next month, is designed to protect users from harmful content such as pornography, cyberbullying, and child sex abuse material. It also targets content that promotes self-harm, eating disorders, terrorism, and racism.

The code applies to platforms like Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Reddit, all of which have their European headquarters in Ireland. These platforms are required to take measures to prevent children from viewing pornography or gratuitous violence. Parents will also have access to control tools to limit certain content.

Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, announced that non-compliance with the new rules could result in significant fines, up to €20 million or 10% of a company’s annual turnover. Platforms will have up to nine months to implement more complex IT-related provisions.

Online Safety Commissioner Niamh Hodnett called the new code a “milestone” in establishing a regulatory framework that balances online safety with the benefits of internet use. The code is part of Ireland’s broader Online Safety Framework, which also includes the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), aimed at regulating a wider group of tech companies across Europe.

Ireland’s move underscores its commitment to curbing harmful online content while ensuring platforms maintain a safer environment for users, especially children. The implementation of the new code marks a significant step toward safer digital experiences.