Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
392. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his views on tackling the use of recommender algorithms on various online service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16896/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnhancing online safety, in particular for children and young people, is a whole of Government priority. It's essential that we ensure our citizens are not exposed to illegal, harmful or inappropriate content, while being able to safely avail of all the benefits of the online world.
Over the last number of weeks, this Department has engaged with several online safety organisations. The topic of recommender systems has been repeatedly raised as one that needs addressing, given their potential to cause significant harm to users, particularly children.
In December the Online Health Taskforce published its Report which recommended that “where existing legal frameworks prove insufficient to protect children and young people from algorithmic harms, additional regulatory measures should be developed.”
The recently updated National Digital and AI Strategy includes a commitment that we ensure our Online Safety Framework is sufficiently robust to deal with emerging challenges and risks, including by adequately resourcing regulators and progressing enhancements to the EU Online Safety Framework. The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport will lead on this work stream.
In terms of the legislative measures currently in place; the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) contains provisions that specifically address recommender systems. Platforms must explain in their terms and conditions, in plain and understandable language, the main parameters their systems use to suggest content to users. They must also provide options for users to change or influence these parameters. Additionally, Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) that use recommender systems must allow users, including minors, the option to use recommender systems that do not rely on profiling.
Providers of online platforms accessible to minors are obliged to put in place appropriate and proportionate measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety, and security of minors, on their service. This also includes a ban on adverts based on profiling when the user is a minor. The DSA requires all VLOPs/VLOSEs to conduct a yearly assessment to identify potential systemic risks associated with the design of their recommender systems and any other relevant algorithmic system. This includes risks associated with the dissemination of illegal content, infringements on fundamental rights, negative effects on public discourse and electoral processes, gender-based violence, public health, and the protection of minors. They must then put in place effective mitigation measures to address these systemic risks.
To assist with enforcement of these obligations, the European Commission established the European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency (ECAT). The Centre provides technical expertise, scientific research, and foresight on emerging risks to support the Commission's exclusive supervisory and enforcement role of the systemic obligations on VLOPs/VLOSEs. This collaboration aims to enhance the transparency and accountability of algorithmic systems, thereby contributing to a safer and more trustworthy online environment for all users.
In a recent example of this Regulation being applied, on 6 February, the European Commission preliminarily found TikTok in breach of the Digital Services Act for its addictive design. This includes features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and its highly personalised recommender system. The DSA provides the European Commission and national Digital Services (DSCs), in Ireland's case Coimisiúin na Meán with a robust set of investigative and sanctioning powers to enforce compliance.
