I thank People Before Profit for bringing this Bill forward. This Bill would amend the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 to regulate the use of recommender algorithms by videosharing platforms. Recommender algorithms are purposely built into many online platforms. The sole purpose of a recommender algorithm is to keep the individual engaged as long as possible, act as an influencer and prompt suggestions connected to his or her personal search. In some cases, it sets out to shape a narrative and stir deep emotional feelings. The problem we face is how to protect children, vulnerable adults and society from being manipulated and, in some extreme cases, radicalised. We have all read about the online digital self-harm most common among young girls and cyberbullying resulting in suicidal ideation and worse. Recently, we had the Grok scandal where nudification of children and women was made public and shared at a rate of 6,700 sexualised images per hour. This is why support this Bill to the next Stage. We know regulation must be imposed on these platforms but we must make it absolutely safe for children. They must have the right to be protected from harm, the right not to be exploited for commercial gain and the right to have accurate and truthful information. The only way this can be done is through legislation, which this Bill does but it needs a little refining before it reaches Final Stage. Sinn Féin fully believes big tech companies must be held responsible for what they produce on their platforms. We also are very much in favour of safety by design practices and full protection of GDPR and citizens' personal data. The digital world is here to stay. We must make sure the Government plays a leading role with an all-Ireland, country-wide digital literacy campaign to make people aware of how recommender algorithms work and empower citizens to make informed decisions, weigh up the criteria and alternatives to what is being put forward by such recommender algorithms. At its heart, this Bill has the protection of children, who are the most subject to peer pressure and all sorts of influences and recommender algorithms. Big tech companies will exploit this human trait. If strong legislation, regulation and oversight are not put in place now, we are failing our young people and our most vulnerable citizens. I believe we will live to regret that in the very near future. In a study of children aged from ten to 14 in the UK, children asked how this was allowed to happen; we were the adults in the room. To not allow this Bill to progress from Second Stage is an abdication of responsibility for our children's future and it will come back to haunt the Minister.

Sentiment score: 0.11