Ministers consider watchdog to rein in the social media giants

MINISTERS are looking at creating a social media watchdog to force the likes of Twitter and Facebook to remove harmful and problematic posts.

They last night agreed to invite the big social media firms to a conference in Dublin Castle for begin discussions, mostly likely in the New Year.

Ministers are also considering the establishment of a ‘digital safety commissioner’ to create a statutory code of practice to force social media firms to remove harmful content swiftly or potentially face court proceedings.

The establishment of a digital safety commissioner would follow similar moves in New Zealand and Australia.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten said: ‘Of course the internet is a wonderful tool to enjoy and learn from but it is also a dangerous place that combines anonymity and distance too easily.’

A source said the approach to online safety encompasses ‘a range of very different issues which require different institutional and legislative responses’.

‘Illegal content includes child sexual abuse material, child grooming, content that incites terrorism, hate speech, defamatory content [and] infringement of privacy legislation.’

The second problem area is matter which is harmful but may not illegal, for example, bullying material, upsetting user remarks, content that promotes anorexia, suicide or self-harm. ‘Responsibility for handling issues of this nature has been less clear cut,’ a source said.

The Department said last night that it is awaiting EU moves in relation to illegal content. This will then provide the basis for managing harmful content.

Mr Naughten will invite social media firms to take part in a forum with Government departments and agencies as well as other groups to ‘progress a whole-of-government approach working together with the operators’.