Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
425. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the position regarding any review ongoing within his Department into the requirement for age verification checks on social media platforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70879/25]
View answer426. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the position regarding any proposals to provide for additional regulations, policies and protections to increase safeguarding of children and young adults online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70880/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 425 and 426 together.
Significant progress has been made regarding age verification and social media platforms in Ireland. Since July of this year, under Coimisiún na Meán’s Online Safety Code, designated video-sharing platforms established in Ireland, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and X, are obliged to implement effective age assurance measures to ensure that, for example, adult-only video content cannot normally be seen by children. Also, since July, guidance on implementing Article 28 of the Digital Services Act, which deals with protecting minors, has been in place, setting out how platforms should address the risk of children and young people being exposed to illegal online content including by means of age verification or age assurance. Failure to adequately fulfil these obligations can lead to significant financial sanctions and continued non-compliance can lead to criminal sanctions for senior management in relevant digital platforms under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act.
Notwithstanding this progress, I believe that more needs to be done to ensure robust age verification, given its importance to keeping children safe online. That is why my Department is working with the Government’s Chief Information Officer and his Office to look at practical technical solutions to age verification as part of the Government's Digital Wallet being developed using MyGovID. In addressing age verification, we must seek to ensure that there are trustworthy systems in place that are interoperable and respect users’ rights, including data protection rights. I am seeking the inclusion of a commitment to this effect in the Government’s updated National Digital Strategy which will be published shortly.
In addition, across Europe, Member States are examining the question of prohibiting access by children and young people to social media platforms – the so-called “digital age of majority”. It should be noted that this is a separate matter to the question of age verification. Ireland is considering its position on this matter. I believe that any decision would be better taken by the EU and EU Member States together and in that regard, it is important to note that the President of the European Commission Ursula van der Leyen announced that she would establish an expert panel to examine the issue, including the implementation of Australia’s social media age restriction policy and advise her on the best approach for Europe in taking next steps on social media regulation. However, it must be acknowledged that there are differing views across the EU on various aspects, for example, as to whether there should be an age of digital majority at all, if there is one, what age it should be, or whether it should be an outright ban or a ban subject to parental consent.
I will continue to work with all stakeholders, nationally and internationally, to ensure robust safety measures, including robust age verification, are in place to protect children and young people from inappropriate, harmful and illegal online content.
