‘Social media firms should face Oireachtas over spread of lies and fear' says TD
When the incident became public, some far-right actors pushed false information that the incident was carried out by a foreign national. Some social media users described the incident as a mass shooting with multiple victims wounded.
However, the gardaí moved quickly to clarify that the shooter was Evan Fitzgerald, 22, of Portrushen, Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow, who was a white Irish male. The clarification of his ethnicity was made in a bid to stop disinformation from spreading about the identity of the shooter. Emergency services near the scene at Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Gardaí confirmed Fitzgerald was alone when he walked through the shopping centre and discharged the firearm into the air a number of times. Fitzgerald ultimately died from a self-inflicted gunshot. Some web users claimed Ireland may have a civil war 'very soon' on the foot of the incident, with others talking about a 'cover-up' of the incident.
Other accounts suggested the shooter was 'not white' and 'probably' an illegal immigrant. None of these allegations was true. Micheál Carrigy, a Fine Gael TD who sits on the Oireachtas Media Committee, said: 'They [social media firms] should be quicker in taking down this information that's on the platforms. Other platforms are being used to spread disinformation and spread disquiet and untruths.'
The deputy said this is 'something that can't be done through mainstream media because you have to publish what is correct', adding: 'Their platforms are being used to spread fear in communities and false information. Senator Micheál Carrigy. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos
'So they need to be quicker in taking down what has been identified as incorrect information and spreading hatred within communities.'
He said he would 'most definitely' like to see companies such as X, Meta and TikTok back in front of an Oireachtas committee soon to discuss the matter. Mr Carrigy added: 'There's people out there using those platforms to promote their racist views.
'As I said, spreading something that's factually incorrect, I think they need to have stronger measures or stronger controls on where people are found to be using platforms or accounts [improperly]. They should be banned, or their accounts should be shut down and closed down and banned. They have to have stricter and tighter controls with regard to the accounts that are being hosted on their platforms.'
No one was injured by the shots discharged on Sunday. However, one young girl suffered a 'minor leg injury' when she fell while running from the scene..
In a transparency report issued last year, social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, stated that it had suspended over four million accounts for a variety of breaches of its service and had removed more than ten million posts.
However, since Elon Musk took over the platform, it has become much more robust in defending free speech rather than moderating its content.
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