Irish media watchdog ‘to double’ its workforce to take on tech giants
IRELAND’S new media regulator is planning to increase its workforce significantly as it prepares to take on tech giants.
Coimisiún na Meán recently celebrated its first birthday, having replaced the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) a year ago.
Last month, the regulator’s first tranche of powers under European digital regulations came into force giving the coimisiún real teeth – the power to fine social media companies that do not comply with the new rules.
Thirteen social media companies have their headquarters or European bases in Ireland – like Meta, Twitter and TikTok – meaning that Coimisiún na Meán is the main regulator for these platforms throughout the world.
The executive chair of Coimisiún na Meán, Jeremy Godfrey, says the pressure’s on for Ireland to get this right.
‘It’s a big responsibility for us and for Ireland to do this well. There’s a very high degree of political support. Ministers have said to us “whatever resources you need, we’ll make sure you can get them.” It’s a big reputational opportunity for Ireland to do this well.’
Mr Godfrey said the Coimisiún has just over 100 staff now, having started with just 40 last year. But it is looking for Government sanction to grow to 250 staff, more than doubling its head count by this time next year.
While he couldn’t put a figure on how many social media users across Europe the regulator would now be responsible for, he said across the 13 platforms in Ireland ‘you’d be hard-pressed to find many people in Europe who weren’t using one of them’.
He said the goal will be for online hate and harmful content to have peaked, with stricter regulations now coming into force, but added: ‘I wouldn’t say that’s an overnight panacea. People now have rights they didn’t have before.’
The complaints department of the Coimisiún is now operational, with people now able to report social media platforms to the regulator if they don’t respond to reports from users about illegal content.
Mr Godfrey said many people are also contacting the Coimisiún for advice on what they should do if they come across illegal content.
‘It’s important that we explain our role. We’re not a censor. We don’t decide who can say what online,’ he said.
The Coimisiún has had a busy start to 2024 as it ‘designated’ 10 social media websites as ‘videosharing platforms’, meaning they will be subject to the regulator’s online safety code. Once finalised, the code will be legally binding on designated videosharing platforms based here. Coimisiún na Meán will be able to impose fines of up to €20million for breaches of the code.
The designated video-sharing platforms are Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Udemy, TikTok, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Pinterest, Tumblr and Reddit.
However, micro-blogging sites Reddit and Tumblr and education site Udemy have already taken issues with the Coimisiún for their designation as videosharing platforms. Reddit and Tumblr both filed High Court actions arguing they are not primarily video-sharing sites but text-based, with a hearing for Reddit taking place in May. All are questioning the rationale for the Coimisiún’s designation.
Mr Godfrey insists this will not slow down or hinder the development of the online safety code that will apply to the platforms when it is finished.
‘Our aim is to come up with what we think the code should be in the next couple of months. There might be a process of engagement of the European Commission, because it affects trade in the EU single market.’
‘We don’t decide who can say what’