reclaimthenet on Nostr: Ireland is about to implement its biggest attack on free speech in decades. The ...
Ireland is about to implement its biggest attack on free speech in decades.
The country is pushing into new regulatory territory with its Online Safety Code, starting in November and in full swing by mid-2025. This Code, led by Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, will effectively let Ireland control what’s allowed across Europe’s major online platforms headquartered on its soil.
The rules ban a vast range of content deemed "harmful"—even if it’s not technically illegal. And yes, that includes a bold step into mandatory age verification/digital ID on some sites. Think Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and others. Comply or pay up: fines hit at $21.6 million or 10% of global revenue.
Ireland’s approach here sidesteps the usual democratic process—parliament approval isn’t required. Critics argue this is regulatory overreach without a democratic mandate. And it could get murkier: disinformation isn’t currently part of the "harmful content" umbrella, but regulators aren’t ruling out adding it.
Thanks to the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive, Ireland’s regulations have a ripple effect on online content across all 27 EU countries. If the precedent sticks, digital oversight in the EU could shift dramatically, with Ireland at the wheel.
The country is pushing into new regulatory territory with its Online Safety Code, starting in November and in full swing by mid-2025. This Code, led by Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, will effectively let Ireland control what’s allowed across Europe’s major online platforms headquartered on its soil.
The rules ban a vast range of content deemed "harmful"—even if it’s not technically illegal. And yes, that includes a bold step into mandatory age verification/digital ID on some sites. Think Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and others. Comply or pay up: fines hit at $21.6 million or 10% of global revenue.
Ireland’s approach here sidesteps the usual democratic process—parliament approval isn’t required. Critics argue this is regulatory overreach without a democratic mandate. And it could get murkier: disinformation isn’t currently part of the "harmful content" umbrella, but regulators aren’t ruling out adding it.
Thanks to the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive, Ireland’s regulations have a ripple effect on online content across all 27 EU countries. If the precedent sticks, digital oversight in the EU could shift dramatically, with Ireland at the wheel.