Several of the world’s top ten social media companies have major offices in Dublin, including Meta, X and TikTok.
The Government of Ireland is taking crackdown on hate speech and harmful content on the internet under its Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hate and Hate Crimes) Bill, which seeks to update the Prohibition of Incitement to Hate Act 1989.
Under the proposed legislation, executives of social media companies will be held personally responsible of the delays in the removal of hateful and hostile content of their digital platforms.
The code is expected to become law in the coming months and companies could face fines of many millions of euros for infringements. “Social media companies need to take some responsibility for what is posted on their platforms,” says James Lawless, Secretary of State for Climate and Communications.
“Ultimately, they are the hosts, are generating profits for having this content online, so there has to be some obligation to worry, control and manage what is housed,” he added.
Increase in online threats to members of the Government
The measures were accelerated when Irish ministers received a rise in online threats. The head of the Irish Government, Simon Harris, is believed to have created a feeling of urgency to take drastic measures against social media companies.
“We can’t have a situation in which it is seen as a species ofwild west (on social media) detached from the laws that would govern a newspaper, as these platforms are a form of media,” said Taoiseach Simon Harris.
Technology experts say the imposition of large fines economic opportunities for social media companies to produce positive results in the coming years.
“Most tech companies will probably comply with this new code of conduct from the state media regulatory agency because they will have to and it is endorsed for the Digital Services Lawwhich is a community law with very high fines“said Adrian Weckler, technology correspondent for the Irish Independent.
“There are some exceptions which local politicians in Ireland and across Europe, including European commissioners, have faced. The most notable is X“he added.
Several of the world’s ten largest social media companies have important offices in Dublinincluding Meta, X and TikTok. Ireland’s hate speech law drew harsh criticism from X’s owner, Elon Muskwho He stated that he would challenge the law if it was approved.
Musk has also proposed funding the legal defense of any Irish citizens who are targeted by the new legislation. In response, Harris said: “My concern is not Elon Musk or (Facebook and Meta founder) Mark Zuckerberg or whatever their names are. my concern is the protectionthe security and the welfare of the personas in this country.”
