Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
259. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the types of online platforms and services that will be subject to the proposed age verification mechanism which is being developed using Ireland’s digital wallet. [72783/25]
View answerUnder Ireland’s Online Safety Code, Video Sharing Platforms established in Ireland which allow users to upload pornography or scenes of gratuitous violence have to use age assurance so that children cannot normally encounter this content. The Code contains a general obligation for Video Sharing Platforms to use age verification (including age estimation) to protect minors from content that could impair the mental, moral or physical development where it is appropriate.
Coimisiún na Meán determines when it is appropriate for a platform to use age verification. So to support this, officials in this Department are 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 doing so, we must seek to ensure interoperability and respect users' rights, including data protection rights.
The OGCIO is leading on the technical aspects of an envisaged pilot which will be run on a voluntary basis. The specifics of the pilot are yet to be finalised but I will be writing to platforms in the coming weeks to invite them to participate in the pilot and I expect that those who are committed to online safety will be happy to engage.
