Ireland's social media regulator gives X extra time to clarify child safety rules
Coimisiún na Meán confirmed to the Irish Examiner that X had requested extra time to respond to its statutory notice seeking information on how it will comply with specific sections of the Online Safety Code.
Having originally been asked to provide this information by July 22 or risk facing 'criminal liability', a new deadline of August 8 has been set.
Crucially, this new deadline comes after the High Court is set to rule on a judicial review taken by X challenging what it has called the "regulatory overreach' from Coimisiún na Meán in how it proposes to hold big tech companies to account.
X has asked the court to overturn the decision to apply the Online Safety Code to its platform.
The decision in that judicial review is set to be delivered on July 25.
Elon Musk's X now has until August to clarify how it is keeping children safe online. File picture: AP Photo/Michel Euler
The regulator has fully contested the case, and has said the code is aimed at keeping people, especially children, safe online.
The Online Safety Code sets binding rules on major platforms that also include Facebook and YouTube to prohibit harmful content like cyberbullying, racism, or incitement to hatred.
It also makes it incumbent on platforms to have robust age assurance such as verifying a passport photo to prevent children from seeing pornography or gratuitous violence online, as 'merely asking users whether they are over 18 will not be enough'.
Coimisiún na Meán says its code — which fully comes into effect this month — fits in with broader European legislation aimed at protecting people online, with big firms such as Meta, YouTube and TikTok obliged to adhere to its rules.
Last month, the regulator wrote to X asking it to explain how it is complying with the code.
'Under Part A of the Code designated platforms must establish and operate age verification systems for users with respect to content which may impair physical, mental, or moral development of minors,' it said.
'For the purposes of Part A, the term 'age verification' includes effective age assurance measures including age estimation.
'Information provided by X so far is not sufficient to assess whether X's current measures are sufficient to protect children using the service. An Coimisiún is therefore using its statutory powers to seek further information.'
The regulator said it would review the response from X if it has complied with part A of the code and determine if further action should be taken.
Facing criminal liability
If X does not respond, it said it could face a 'criminal liability, including a fine of up to €500,000'.
If it is eventually found that X has breached its obligations under the Online Safety Code, it can be fined up to €20m or 10% of its turnover.
A spokesperson for Coimisiún na Méan said: 'In June, [we] issued a statutory Information Notice to X Internet Unlimited Company, the provider of the platform X, with an obligation to respond by July 22, 2025.
'X have since requested an extension to this deadline and this request has been granted by An Coimisiún with a new deadline of August 8, 2025.'
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