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The Irish media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, has started a formal review of major online platforms including social media and commercial giants as a result of claims that users are having difficulty reporting illegal content.
The 12 platforms that have been contacted in connection with the review are Tiktok, X, YouTube, Meta, LinkedIn, Temu, Pinterest, Shein, Etsy, Dropbox, Hostelworld and Tumblr.
A statement from An Coimisiún says the concern comes following an initial review, alongside information gathered from the regulator’s contact centre, as well as from complaints passed on by other European regulators.
Requests have been issued by An Coimisiún for information on the platforms’ approach to reporting options for illegal content, as well as for points of contact for users.
Under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), internet platforms must have “easy to access and user-friendly ways for users to report illegal content,” as well as an obvious point of contact for users.
An Coimisiún is undertaking the review and engaging with the platforms to ensure that they are in compliance with EU law, being responsible for making sure that all platforms with their EU headquarters in Ireland follow these rules.
In its statement the regulator said that if the review does not result in changes it can open a formal investigation which may result in sanctions, such as a fine, if platforms are found to be non-compliant.
“An Coimisiún can also enter into a binding commitment agreement with a platform, in which the platform gives undertakings to bring its behaviour into line with the law,” it said.
Digital Services Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, John Evans said that of the complaints they have from people in Ireland and across Europe about online platforms, “one in three are about problems when reporting illegal content online”.
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