Ban unsafe online services for children
Ireland's Minister for Communications, Patrick O'Donovan, suggests banning online services unsafe for children, arguing that fines for social media firms are counterproductive 'free advertising.' The media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, supports banning services with dangerous features like addictive design, rather than blanket age bans.
Why it matters
This discussion reflects a growing international concern over children's online safety and the effectiveness of current regulatory approaches, potentially leading to stricter regulations on social media platforms in the EU and beyond.
Minister for Communications Patrick O'Donovan has said that fines imposed on social media firms are "free advertising" for platforms and have become counterproductive.
He was speaking at the opening of an EU Presidency conference in Dublin Castle on online safety which is hearing from policymakers, industry figures, representative organisations, regulators and children.
Mr O'Donovan said Europe is moving towards stricter controls on social media and moving away from just imposing fines.
"Fines are really important; the money goes back into the Exchequer," Mr O'Donovan said.
"But these companies are gleaning enormous amounts of free advertising out of these fines, and it is actually, in many ways, becoming counterproductive," he added.
The Communications Minister said that if the media regulator Coimisiún na Meán requests additional powers to ban platforms that are harmful to children, he would be open to considering it.
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