A new Irish bill focused on regulating the online sector would see social media companies face multi-million euro fines for non-compliance with the proposed laws.
The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill, fronted by Minister Catherine Martin, is designed to tackle the spread of criminal online material, cyberbullying and material promoting eating disorders, self-harm or suicide.
The maximum fine for non-compliance is 10% of turnover or €20 million, whichever is the higher - which could mean billions in the case of the larger tech companies.
It will also aim to regulate the online sector as a whole, according to Minister Martin.
Streaming sites
Separately, video streaming platforms operating in the State must ensure that at least 30% of their catalogues are “European works”, which can include content that originates from the UK.
As part of the new legislation, video-on-demand services would have to sign up to codes and rules overseen by the new Media Commission.
This, according to the Bill, would legislate to regulate traditional and online media.
The move would also work alongside a new media commission in lieu of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.
Minister @cathmartingreen has finalised the General Scheme of the #Online Safety and #Media Regulation Bill. This important legislation will put an end to the era of self-regulation by online platforms.
➡️ https://t.co/yG2jPYhjMk#AVMSD #OnlineSafety #OSMR pic.twitter.com/f2o0uwC9o5— Tourism-Culture-Arts-Gaeltacht-Sport-Media (@DeptCulturelRL) December 9, 2020
Minister Martin said: “In some circumstances, the Media Commission will have a role in regulating certain companies with European headquarters established in Ireland on a pan-EU basis. This includes a number of major global companies such as Apple, YouTube and Facebook.
“For this reason, potential financial sanctions must act as a suitable deterrent and be sufficient to prevent any companies of this scale gaining an economic benefit as a result of non-compliance.”
Online Safety Commissioner
The new Bill – originally proposed in January – will also provide for the prosecution of senior management in social media companies if they fail to comply with warnings issued the online safety commissioner.
The commission will be given powers to block a service, investigate content, audit complaints as well as order social media companies to address misleading or false information online.
After Government approval was secured today, Ms Martin said that she was "pleased to see progress in relation to this important piece of legislation".
"For many years, light-touch regulation has been the norm for video-on-demand services. The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill will establish more appropriate regulation of these services and ensure that they are subjected to similar regulatory obligations as television broadcasters.”
The General Scheme of the proposed Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill is available here.
