I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after ”That" and substitute the following: "Dáil Éireann declines to give the Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2026 a second reading, on the grounds that the issues the Bill seeks to address are already being addressed by Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland's independent online safety and media regulator, through its implementation of Ireland's Online Safety Framework, together with the European Commission.". Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí éagsúla as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a thabhairt os comhair na Dála ar maidin. Mar a dúirt mé cheana sa Teach seo, is tosaíocht Rialtais í sábháilteacht gach duine in Éirinn, óg agus aosta, a chinntiú. Is cuid lárnach í an tsábháilteacht ar líne. Tá sí sin mar bhonn faoin straitéis náisiúnta digiteach agus um intleacht shaorga 2030, a foilsíodh le déanaí. Is é uaillmhian na straitéise ná na buntáistí is féidir le teicneolaíochtaí digiteacha agus intleacht shaorga a thairiscint dár sochaí agus geilleagair a uasmhéadú chomh maith le tiomantas an Rialtais chun sábháilteacht ar líne a fheabhsú agus a threisiú, go háirithe do leanaí agus daoine óga mar thosaíocht don chóras iomlán. Ireland is working closely with our European colleagues and partners, industry and other stakeholders to ensure a coherent regulatory framework that protects all consumers and vulnerable groups. The strategy includes a strong focus on further strengthening our strategic engagement on the EU’s digital agenda as a strong advocate at EU level for a balanced and proportionate approach to digital regulation. It is also my intention that online safety will be front and centre during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, on behalf of my Department. I have made that position clear on a number of occasions. Coimisiún na Meán is now firmly established at the heart of Ireland's online safety framework, which comprises the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, the EU Digital Services Act, DSA, and the EU terrorist content online regulation. While I appreciate the good intentions underlying the Deputies’ Bill, we must acknowledge that under this new legislative framework, the issues around recommender systems can be and are being addressed. Article 27 of the EU Digital Services Act requires that platforms explain, in understandable language, the main parameters their systems use to suggest content, as well as providing options for users to change or influence these parameters. Articles 34 and 35 require platforms to assess and mitigate risks that their recommender systems may present, including to the protection of minors. Very large online platforms and very large online search engines that use recommender systems must allow users, including minors, the option to use recommender systems that do not rely on profiling. The obligation to focus on protecting minors is set out in the guidance produced by the European Commission under Article 28 of the EU Digital Services Act. We can already see the progress being made in addressing the risks of recommender systems. Last month, the European Commission, which is the lead regulator for the very large online platforms and search engines under the Digital Services Act, issued preliminary findings in its investigation that TikTok was in breach of the DSA in respect of its recommender systems, among other things. TikTok must now look to address those issues. The European Commission is investigating a number of other platforms in respect of recommender systems as well. This is EU regulation in action, so it would not be appropriate to look to amend our own legislation in this respect when the regulation and legislation are being implemented. In relation to data protection, it appears that section 2 of this Bill would alter the legal basis set out in the EU general data protection regulation, GDPR, for the processing of personal data by requiring consent in all cases where a person has not attained the age of 18 and permit such processing where a data subject has attained the age of 18. In addition, it sets out transparency requirements in relation to the option to select the recommender system. There is already an extensive existing body of case law under the GDPR as to what constitutes valid consent and sufficient transparency requirements. Section 2, therefore, may be in conflict with the GDPR. Given the cross-border nature of large-scale data processing, legislating in Ireland for additional limitations on the processing of personal data, if not in conflict with the GDPR, would likely have limited benefit. It would appear the Bill confines its provisions to video-sharing platform services as defined in the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act. This means it would only apply to such platforms established in Ireland, thereby excluding platforms such as Roblox or Snapchat, which are established elsewhere in the European Union. This would be a significant inconsistency that could disimprove online safety. The designated video-sharing platforms are also subject to the DSA, which ensures consistency across the European Union and is a maximum harmonisation piece of digital services legislation across the EU. While the Government acknowledges that recommender systems can amplify inappropriate, harmful or illegal content, it is not clear what would happen should a recommender system simply be switched off. In addition, recommender systems and algorithms serve to protect people, including children and young people, from harmful content. 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. I, like every Deputy in the House, have a shared desire to improve online safety, in particular for children and young people; I say that as a father myself. I mentioned at the outset that Coimisiún na Meán is at the heart of our online safety framework. Since replacing the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland on its establishment in March 2023, the remit of an coimisiún has expanded and is continuing to grow. In addition to regulating broadcasting and on-demand media services, and leading on Ireland's online safety framework, Coimisiún na Meán has been designated as a fundamental rights authority and a market surveillance authority in respect of certain prohibited practices under the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. It has also been designated as a competent authority supervising online platforms under the EU regulation for transparency and targeting of political advertising, TTPA. Finally, it is envisaged that Coimisiún na Meán will take on functions under the European Media Freedom Act, which is being implemented in Ireland through the Media Regulation Bill. The nature of this framework demonstrates the cross-cutting nature of online safety. We have seen all too recently how the speed of the development of technology can bring wholly negative developments, as evidenced in the creation and dissemination of harmful and illegal content powered by Grok AI. However, An Coimisiún engaged with stakeholders like An Garda Síochána in Ireland and, under the DSA with the European Commission. An Coimisiún met with X as did the European Commission. As provided for under the DSA, and notwithstanding that X said it had taken steps to restrict the ability of Grok to create this content, the European Commission announced it was expanding its investigation of X and also that it could still take interim measures against X if the steps it took were not sufficient. I agree with Deputy O'Gorman that every platform that is domiciled in Ireland should go before an Oireachtas committee and should co-operate with Oireachtas committees. I said that previously in the House and outside it as well. The Government is engaging with the European Commission with regard to including this type of feature as a prohibited practice under the AI Act and the Minister for justice is considering the need for further measures in the area. I have written to Coimisiún na Meán to request it to develop a public awareness campaign on these matters and to work with the AI Advisory Council to review and update existing taxonomies of harm to include AI-generated harms. All of this is to underline the fact that online safety is a cross-departmental issue and Departments are working together on it. It also underlines how online safety crosses borders. That is why, as I said, I am making online safety the priority of our forthcoming Presidency of the European Council. We are planning a youth forum in the run-up to the Presidency and an online safety conference during it. I am eager to hear from children and young people themselves on issues, including about the digital age of majority. On that matter, and as set out in the recently published national digital and AI strategy, the Government is actively engaging with like-minded member states on the issue of the digital age of majority. As I have said in this House previously, there is no universality of views on whether there should be a digital age of majority and if so, what the age it should be, and if there is one, whether parental consent should be involved. Nevertheless, the Government would prefer an EU-level decision and the expert panel convened by European Commission President Ursula Van Der Leyen, is to report during the summer and this will be important to consider in any decision on this matter. I am also aware that there is no universality of views on this issue in Ireland or even in this House. However, at the same time, we can clearly see the risks that harmful content can present to our young people and, therefore, if required, Ireland will take action on this matter. Separately, we are working on an age verification tool as part of Ireland’s digital wallet with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. Let me be clear that the wallet is not just about age verification; it is about safe, secure and convenient access to public services, but it should also serve as a robust and privacy-respecting age verification tool. The wallet will not be mandatory for people to have nor will it be mandatory for platforms to use it. It is intended as a Government-sponsored safe, secure and privacy-preserving age verification option. A pilot is envisaged, which will be voluntary to participate in, and departmental officials continue to engage with platforms about their support for and participation in it and I would expect that they would do so. Nothing has been confirmed yet and work in being done in this regard. Finally, returning to the Bill, the approach set out at the EU level through the DSA primarily is a better approach to delivering on the shared objectives of protecting our children and our young people online and as a result I propose the amendment.

Sentiment score: 0.24

That is the clearest the Deputy's party has been in a long time. Now I know where it stands. It is very helpful. He is not going to ban it. He will not support the Government. Thanks very much. He clarified something Deputy Byrne would not do last night.

Sentiment score: 0.21

I welcome Deputy Gould's point of view. It has been very enlightening.

Sentiment score: 0.51