Irish regulator opens formal investigation into X over child access, parental controls

An Irish regulator has begun a formal ‌investigation into social media platform ‌X ⁠over concerns about potential child access to ⁠material depicting pornography and violence and the effectiveness of parental controls, it said on Tuesday.

Media regulator Coimisiún na ​Meán has the ‌power to apply a fine of up to 10% of “relevant annual turnover” under Ireland’s Online Safety Code.

Under the code, age assurance ‌is required to ensure that children do ​not see videos “depicting pornography or extreme/gross and gratuitous violence or acts of ⁠cruelty,” the regulator said in a statement announcing the investigation.

It said concerns had arisen ‌in relation to the “potential ineffective implementation of age assurance mechanisms by X,” adding that age assurance based solely on self-declaration is not considered effective.