It would; that is the point.

Sentiment score: 0.00

I welcome this Bill. I commend my colleagues on bringing it forward. Until the latest social media controversy arose, I and many others would have thought that we had sufficient legislation to tackle social media companies propagating nudification AI. The Government has been too slow to act. That is why this Bill is necessary and welcome. Last week, TikTok, Meta and Google were before the media committee to discuss the regulation of online platforms and supports to improve online safety and participation. X was invited but refused to attend. All three companies' attendees' opening statements made assertions that their priorities were online safety, data protection and child and user welfare. They also stated that they could remove reported posts within hours during the hearing. In recent hearings on online safety, experts gave detailed testimonies on how the social media platforms were failing in their responsibilities. There was a stark disparity in what the social media companies' representatives were saying happens when complaints are made to the lived reality of people and the testimonies given by guests at the previous hearings. They are not facing up to the problems on their platforms. If they do not make actionable changes to their approaches to online safety, then the full extent of the law should be brought to bear on online platforms and service providers who try to flout the rules. This amendment to Coco's Law will help with that. Coimisiún na Meán also needs to step up and use all the tools given to it to tackle social media companies. It is not doing that. The Online Safety and Media Regulation Act gives it the power under Irish law to issue a penalty or fine of €20 million or 10% of turnover if social media companies fail to protect children and the public from harmful, illegal content. Instead, it has stepped aside for the European Commission to conclude its formal investigation into X under the EU Digital Services Act, saying that it is associated with this investigation, and it is ready to play its part. Legislation is only useful if it in force. Behind every damning statistic that has prompted this Bill are the lived realities of victims of abuse. Some of them are here in the Gallery this evening. For them, not only does this Bill need to be passed but it needs to be enforced.

Sentiment score: 0.08