In response to media queries about Part B of the Online Safety Code, Coimisiún na Meán has issued the following statement.
Coimisiún na Meán regularly engages with platforms to ensure that they comply with their online safety obligations.
Platforms have had nine months to come into compliance with Part B of the Code. We expect platforms to comply with their legal obligations. Non-compliance is a serious matter which can lead to sanctions including significant financial penalties.
Under Part B of the Code, video-sharing platforms that allow pornography must use effective age assurance to ensure that children are not normally able to access it. Based on an initial review of the X platform, we cannot see evidence of measures taken to comply with this age assurance requirement. We have further concerns about X’s compliance with other parts of the Code, including but not limited to, the availability of parental controls.
We have sought an explanation from X about the measures that they have taken to comply with the Code by Friday and will take further action where there is evidence of non-compliance with the Code.
We are continuing to review all of the designated video-sharing platforms to assess their compliance with the Code and will take any further supervisory, investigative or enforcement action required.