Latest news with #IrishOnlineSafetyCode
Euractiv
29-07-2025
- Business
- Euractiv
Top Irish court says porn age checks on X don't breach EU digital rules
The Irish High Court today dismissed an appeal by Elon Musk's platform X, which argued that the Irish Online Safety Code should not apply to it, claiming the Code conflicted with the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). X challenged the Irish regulator Coimisiún na Meán's Online Safety Code – parts of which came into effect last week – which urges video-sharing platforms such as X to implement age checks to restrict children's access to pornographic and violent content. The company argued that the Irish Code was incompatible with obligations under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). However, the Irish High Court announced today that it has rejected X's appeal, according to the judgment seen by Euractiv. In the ruling, Mr Justice Bradley stated that the Irish Code's provisions on protecting minors online – such as requiring age checks – 'are within the vires of the AVMSD... and are entirely complementary to the DSA and not in conflict with it.' Separately, X updated its help centre page, announcing it would introduce age verification measures on its platform to comply with both the Irish Code and the EU's DSA. Responding to the judgment, Coimisiún na Meán said: 'We welcome the Court's judgment and will study it in full before commenting further.' (aw)
Euractiv
28-07-2025
- Business
- Euractiv
X rolls out porn age-checks in Ireland
The Irish regulator confirmed to Euractiv on Monday that social media platform X has provided it with information about age checks under the country's Online Safety Code. Under Ireland's Online Safety Code, video-sharing platforms such as X faced a deadline last week to put age checks in place on their platforms if they carry pornographic or violent content. But on Thursday Coimisiún na Meán, which oversees the Code, raised the alarm about X after an initial review showed it was falling short. X appears to have taken quick notice of the warning as Coimisiún na Meán said the social media firm responded to it on Friday "with information about the measures they have taken", according to a statement emailed to Euractiv. "We note that users are now seeing these measures in effect when using this service," Coimisiún na Meán also told us. In an online post in its Help Center on Friday, X wrote that due to the Irish Online Safety Code and the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), it is required "to verify your age for access to certain types of content." Per the platform's explainer of its approach to age assurance, X suggests that it may not need users to provide it with additional information to run the age checks as it said it may be able to rely on existing signals that a user is over 18 – such as self-attested age, legacy verified public figures, a user's email address, social connections or other data points. However, if it is unable to make a determination using existing data-points, X said it could ask users to choose between uploading a live selfie to run AI-powered facial age estimation or submitting a government-issued ID for an AI scan of the credential. In a statement emailed to Euractiv, an X spokesperson described child safety as "a top priority", adding: "We are fully committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations, including the Irish Online Safety Code, and we are prioritising its implementation on X." While X has kicked off age checks in Ireland it remains to be seen whether its approach will pass muster with the regulator. "We will assess whether these measures... are sufficient to comply with the Online Safety Code," Coimisiún na Meán also wrote . Breaches of the Irish Code can attract fines of up to €20 million or 10% of annual turnover. (nl)
Sunday World
28-07-2025
- Business
- Sunday World
Irish regulator says X has introduced age verification for adult content
Elon Musk's social media platform hasn't yet provided details of the measures in place but it has implemented an age-check system based on users' email and contacts books in the UK Elon Musk's X has begun applying some age verification controls on its adult content, according to the Irish media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán. The platform, which recently added an adult content mode for its child-accessible AI assistant, was warned last week by the regulator that no evidence of measures to comply with newly-enforced age assurance requirements were visible and that the platform faced imminent 'action'. Companies that do not comply with the Online Safety Code face fines of up to up to 10pc of annual turnover. However, the regulator today told the Irish Independent that it has now received an update from Elon Musk's firm about some age assurance steps. 'Coimisiún na Meán contacted X last week in relation to the measures they are taking to comply with Part B of the Online Safety Code, including age assurance and parental controls,' a spokesperson said. 'X replied on Friday with information about the measures they have taken and we note that users are now seeing these measures in effect when using the service. We will assess whether these measures, and those taken by other platforms, are sufficient to comply with the Online Safety Code as part of our on-going supervision of platforms' compliance with the Code and the other parts of our Online Safety Framework.' The regulator has not said what the measures in question are. However, X has implemented a limited age-verification system in the UK that checks a user's email and contacts book for evidence of typical adult interaction and connections. The company has done so in response to similar age assurance laws that came into effect in that country. X has not commented on its age verification measures in Ireland, although a spokesperson told the Irish Independent last week that 'the safety of any children on our platform is a top priority' at the company. 'We are fully committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations, including the Irish Online Safety Code and we are prioritising its implementation on X,' the spokesperson said. Separately, YouTube has widened age verification controls after lapses pointed out by an Irish Independent investigation. Depictions of torture and extreme violence from over-18s films have now been blocked for users that have not provided some verification of their age. Of the platforms headquartered in Ireland and under specific control by the Irish regulator, X is the only social media service to allow pornography. Last week, X added a pornographic mode to its general AI assistant, Grok, which is available to 12 year old children in the two main smartphone and tablet app stores The new adult-themed AI assistant, 'Ani', features a cartoon animé woman in lingerie that engages in explicit sexual dialogue with users, including themes of bondage, submission and other extreme acts. X's adult chatbot Ani Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 28th
RTÉ News
28-07-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
X introduces age assurance measures to meet regulations
X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, has introduced new age assurance measures in a bid to comply with Irish, UK and EU regulations. Under provisions of the Irish Online Safety Code that came into force last Monday, video-sharing platforms that allow pornography must have effective age assurance measures. Last week, the media regulator Coimisiún na Meán said it had not seen evidence of measures taken by X to comply with the code. It contacted platform and asked for an explanation by last Friday. It is understood Coimisiún na Meán has received a reply from X outlining the new measures which the regulator is now studying. In an online help centre post, X said it is required by regulations including the UK's Online Safety Act, the Irish Online Safety Code and the European Union Digital Services Act, to verify age for access to certain types of content. The company said it will take a multi-step approach. This will include age assurance using existing signals such as previous age verification, legacy verified accounts, and account creation dates. The company said where it does not have previous signals, it will look at things like user email addresses and social connections to estimate age. X said it is also planning user involved verification options that will give account holders a choice between "two secure, privacy-respecting options." Users can upload a live selfie, which will be used to estimate their age by artificial intelligence facial recognition systems. Alternatively, users can submit a government-issued ID, which will be used to estimate their age. X said these measures should be made available in the coming weeks. "If a user is determined to be under 18, they will be defaulted into sensitive media settings, and will not be able to access sensitive media," X said. "Until we are able to determine if a user is 18 or over, they may be defaulted into sensitive media settings, and may not be able to access sensitive media," the company added. X said if people believe they have had their ages incorrectly estimated as under 18, the decision can be challenged by contacting X. The company said when it comes to privacy and data handling, it will be updating its use and storage information, and that third party providers will be bound by strict data protection standards.
Euractiv
24-07-2025
- Business
- Euractiv
Elon Musk's X in hot water over Irish law on porn age checks
Elon Musk's social media platform X has until tomorrow to comply with an Irish law requiring age checks to protect minors after an initial review by the regulator found it falling short. Under the Irish Online Safety Code, video-sharing platforms based in Ireland, including X, had until 21 July to comply with a rule requiring them to put effective age checks in place if they carry pornographic content. However, Coimisiún na Meán, the Irish watchdog overseeing the rules, announced today that its initial review shows X has failed to comply with the requirement. "Based on an initial review of the X platform, we cannot see evidence of measures taken to comply with this age assurance requirement," it said in a statement dated Thursday. The regulator also said it has asked X for an explanation by tomorrow – otherwise it warned it could "take further action where there is evidence of non-compliance". Under the Irish Code, X could face a fine of up €20 million or 10% of its annual turnover for a confirmed breach. Separately, the platform has until tomorrow to comply with a similar legal deadline in the UK to implement age checks. The UK regulator, Ofcom, has said that online platforms, including X, previously told it they would deploy age assurance methods to meet the country's online safety rules, without specifying exactly which type of age assurance they would use. X could not immediately be reached for a comment. (nl)
