The media regulator Coimisiún na Meán has opened a review of online platforms amid concerns that people are having difficulty reporting illegal content.
An Coimisiún has issued formal requests for information to a range of platforms for further details on their approach to reporting options for illegal content and points of contact for users.
The companies that have been contacted are TikTok, X, YouTube, Meta, LinkedIn, Temu, Pinterest, Shein, Etsy, Dropbox, Hostelworld and Tumblr.
Coimisiún na Meán said it is concerned that people are having difficulty reporting illegal content to these platforms following an initial review, alongside information gathered from its contact centre and complaints passed on by other European regulators.
Under the EU's set of online safety rules, the Digital Services Act (DSA), online platforms are required to act on reports of illegal content in line with the law.
An Coimisiún is initiating this formal review to ensure that the platforms are complying with their obligations under the DSA.
Under the rules, online platforms must have easy to access and user-friendly ways for users to report illegal content.
They must also have a clear and accessible point of contact for users to contact them.
Coimisiún na Meán is responsible for making sure that all platforms with their EU headquarters in Ireland follow these rules.
Meta says DSA taken seriously
RTÉ News has contacted a number of the companies involved to get a response.
Meta has issued a reply from its President of Global Affairs Meta, Nick Clegg, who said: "we've been working hard since the DSA came into force last November to respond to these new rules and adapt the existing safety systems".
He added that the company is taking the DSA seriously, and that "we assembled one of the largest cross-functional teams in our history, with over 1,000 people currently working on the DSA, to develop solutions to the DSA’s requirements".
"We have also established a new, independent compliance function to help us meet our regulatory obligations on an ongoing basis."
Once the information gathering phase is complete, Coimisiún na Meán will engage with the platforms to ensure that their reporting mechanisms and point of contacts comply with the requirements of the DSA.
Where concerns remain, the regulator can issue a compliance notice directing platforms to address any shortcomings identified in their systems and processes.
If this does not lead to changes and improvements, An Coimisiún can open a formal investigation which, if it leads to a finding of non-compliance, can result in sanctions including a fine.
"Of the complaints we have from people in Ireland and across Europe about online platforms, one in three are about problems when reporting illegal content online," said John Evans, Digital Services Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán,
"We are intervening now to ensure that platforms follow the rules so that people can effectively exercise their rights under the DSA," Mr Evans said.
Niamh Hodnett, Online Safety Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, said that through the DSA, the upcoming Online Safety Code and the EU Terrorist Content Online Regulation, the regulator is working towards a digital landscape where adults and children can go online without fear of being harmed by the content or behaviour they come across.
"When people see illegal content, they should report it to the platform where they saw it and if they aren't satisfied with the platform’s response, or if they can’t find an easy way to report the content, they should get in touch with us," Ms Hodnett said.
