Ireland’S Media Watchdog Opens Probe Into X Over Child-Safety Concerns

X under investigation

X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, is the subject of a formal probe by Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán. The regulator has raised concerns that X may not be meeting the requirements of Ireland’s Online Safety Code when it comes to protecting children online.

This marks the first formal investigation into X under the Online Safety Code. Coimisiún na Meán says age assurance and effective parental controls are central to the code’s safeguards for young users.

What the regulator found

Age checks and parental controls

The regulator says age assurance is essential on X to prevent children from seeing videos that depict pornography or extreme, gratuitous violence and acts of cruelty. Because the platform allows adult-only content while also permitting users under 16, the Online Safety Code requires robust parental-control systems.

Coimisiún na Meán’s concern is that X’s parental controls may fall short – they may not meet minimum expectations, can be difficult to find and may not be highlighted to new users at sign-up. The regulator is looking into whether those measures are effective enough to protect children.

“Our priority is protecting children online and making sure parents have stronger tools to shape their kids’ experiences,” said John Evans, digital services commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán.

Wider context and possible penalties

Coimisiún na Meán has also opened other probes under the EU Digital Services Act in the last year – investigations include X, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. The regulator is additionally involved in four joint inquiries launched by the European Commission into TikTok, X and Shein.

If a platform is judged to have breached the Online Safety Code, the regulator can seek administrative financial sanctions – including fines up to 10% of relevant annual turnover or 20 million euro, whichever is greater. The investigation into X will determine whether such measures are warranted.

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