I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I welcome the intention of it, which is one that Sinn Féin shares: protecting our children from harm in the digital world. Digital participation is not a luxury in Ireland; it is a necessity. Our children have a right to be online, and it is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. They have a right to participate, to access information and to be protected from exploitation. It is our job, as legislators, to ensure the digital environments they inhabit are safe. That is why we must urgently address recommender algorithms. These are not neutral tools. They are engagement engines programmed to maximise the time we spend on a platform. It is eyes on the screen. Their success is measured in revenue raised, not in well-being. For our young people, this means being fed an endless loop of content. We know these algorithms amplify extreme material, promote unrealistic body images and create hate-filled echo chambers that can cause immense damage. Large tech companies claim they are doing everything they can to ensure safety, yet without sufficient regulation, we cannot take their word for it. All of the evidence proves that to be the case. The failure to collect the vast majority of fines issued by the Data Protection Commissioner shows a lack of seriousness from the Government in holding these companies to account. They must be held responsible for what is on their platforms. The Minister's response and the fact that he is opposing this legislation is deeply disappointing. While it is probably not surprising, it is concerning. He mentioned the option to use recommender systems that do not rely on profiling and said the option to turn them off should be available. That is not enough. He said, "The DSA approach requires platforms to mitigate the risks and thus improve and enhance their recommender systems, which is preferable to the unknown risk of switching off those recommender systems." What is the risk of the status quo, which he is essentially suggesting should be maintained? We know the risk and the harm because of it. Time and again, the Government and the Minister do not do enough. In fact, he comes in as a spokesperson for those companies; that is what he sounds like. It is not enough. Like Deputy Joanna Byrne, I commend anyone trying to fight the good fight on this. We need to see action.

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