Latest news with #NiamhHodnett
Irish Examiner
28-04-2025
- Irish Examiner
Several social media platforms yet to share online safety plans with regulator
Major social platforms such as X and Reddit have yet to tell the media regulator how they will clamp down on children watching pornographic content on their sites, ahead of a July deadline for the introduction of age checks. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Online safety commissioner Niamh Hodnett said the platforms that Coimisiún na Meán must regulate carry 'different risks'. Ms Hodnett also hinted that investigations may soon be forthcoming into some of the big tech giants with European headquarters in Ireland. 'There's been extensive engagement with these platforms since [last year],' she said. 'If the supervisory team come to the view they've reached a dead end or the end of the road in relation to supervisory dialogue, and the behaviours haven't changed, then the matter gets escalated to the enforcement team, who then open the matter for investigation.' In July, the second part of Coimisiún na Meán's Online Safety Code comes into force. It obliges YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, Reddit, Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram, Udemy, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter) to take specific actions to combat harmful content such as cyber bullying, the promotion of eating disorders, and promotion of self-harm and suicide. They must also introduce age verification checks to ensure those under the age of 18 cannot view pornography or extreme violence on their platforms. The regulator has not been prescriptive on what form this age verification should take, but said it must be robust and ticking a box to say you are overage would not be sufficient. Previously, its executive chair Jeremy Godfrey told the Irish Examiner that a requirement for a person to show their passport and then a selfie to verify they are the person on the ID could be described as a 'gold standard'. Sanctions for breaches of the code can run into the tens or hundreds of millions of euro. X, Reddit, and Tumblr have taken separate judicial reviews in the High Court against the Online Safety Code. While Reddit and Tumblr failed in these bids, X's case is set to be heard in June, just a month before the code is set to apply to the site. 'In relation to the three platforms in question, no we haven't had sight of what exactly their proposed plans are but nor do we have communication that they're absolutely not going to do it,' she said. Ms Hodnett added there is no 'indicative timeline' for it launching investigations into particular firms if they believe it to be breaching its obligations but said that discussions with these platforms are ongoing. 'We said what's key for us is getting the behavioural change, rather than the big fines,' she said. 'But, of course, if we're not seeing the behavioural change, we will have to resort to investigation and enforcement. Again, not prejudging anything.' Read More Government urged to support bill forcing social media firms to turn off 'addictive' algorithms for children
Irish Independent
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Media regulator has ‘full arsenal of tools' to tackle online child sex material
Ireland's media regulator says it has a 'full arsenal of tools' to target social media sites that publish and promote child sex abuse material and AI-generated sex abuse images. Coimisiun na Mean, which published a three-year strategy and a 2025 work programme on Thursday, said that sex abuse images appearing online are increasing in their prevalence. Niamh Hodnett, the coimisiun's online safety commissioner, said it holds social media platforms to account under the Online Safety Framework. Child sex abuse material is covered by the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Irish Examiner view: Big Tech is thumbing its nose at Coimisiún na Meán
Coimisiún na Meán launched its three-year strategy yesterday, and it is difficult to argue against many of the objectives in its plans. Ireland's media regulator picked out several areas which need close attention. Safeguarding children from online threats is one, while maintaining the integrity of elections in the face of interference by malign actors is another. launched its three-year strategy yesterday, and it is difficult to argue against many of the objectives in its plans. Ireland's media regulator picked out several areas which need close attention. Safeguarding children from online threats is one, while maintaining the integrity of elections in the face of interference by malign actors is another. The various dangers posed by artificial intelligence (AI) as well as the regulation of online advertising are other matters under consideration. All in all, Coimisiún na Meán is not short of challenges, some of which have a tendency to infect each other. At the launch of the organisation's strategy, for instance, its online safety commissioner Niamh Hodnett said that it had already engaged with tech organisations about child abuse images generated by AI. 'We did meet with Open AI — ChatGpt — recently,' said Ms Hodnett. We discussed concerns in general in relation to online safety, including AI-generated CSAM [child sexual abuse material], and we would meet with all the platforms in this regard to highlight our concerns.' It is disheartening to consider that Coimisiún na Meán's good intentions are not matched by its powers. Those seem impressive at first — it can impose fines of up to 6% of a company's turnover, or €20m, whichever is greater, but that needs to be seen in context. Just this week, the European Commission fined Apple €500m and Meta €200m for breaches of the EU's digital competition rules, amounts which are staggering to contemplate for mere mortals — but which will hardly cause a ripple in those firms' end-of-year accounts. It would be encouraging to report unequivocal support and co-operation from tech firms when it comes to the significant issues being raised by Coimisiún na Meán, but the regulatory body reported yesterday that it is already dealing with 'pushback' from some firms operating in this area. This is a polite way of saying those firms are thumbing their noses at the State's official regulator, which is an accurate representation of the balance of power here — and an indication of the challenges facing Coimisiún na Meán. Housing targets missed The Department of Housing published figures this week on the Government's social housing targets, and they do not make good reading. The figures show that not only has the Government missed its 2024 social and affordable housing targets, it delivered fewer homes last year than it did in 2023. The Department of Housing reported that there were 7,871 new-build social homes constructed in 2024, over 1,400 homes below the target of 9,300 new builds the Government pledged in its housing for all plan. That 2024 number also falls well short of the 8,110 new-build social homes delivered in 2023. It is the first time that the delivery of social and affordable housing has gone backwards, which is a remarkable but unwelcome milestone. The country has never been wealthier, with plenty of the markers of affluence, such as employment levels, reaching unprecedented heights. Yet, we are building fewer social and affordable houses than we were in previous years. That is not in relative terms — but in raw numbers. Earlier this week, minister for housing James Browne outlined in these pages his plans to speed up the delivery of housing across the country. He stated that he was not interested in 'politics as usual'. Almost immediately afterwards, however, he was dealing with one of the most glaring examples of 'politics as usual' in contemporary Irish life: Trying to explain the inadequacies in the Government's response to the housing crisis. The minister was reported as acknowledging the shortfall in housing figures, but adding that it was not 'as pronounced as may have been feared'. This in itself is a telling indication of where we are now with the housing crisis: It is embarrassing to consider the minister responsible is reduced to saying the failure was not as abject as initially feared. The Government should be able to hit its own social and affordable housing targets. Failure to do so is a searing indictment of its capabilities. What's your view on this issue? You can tell us here Feelgood 25th anniversary Today we mark a special date in the history of the Irish Examiner — it is the 25th anniversary of Feelgood, the health and wellbeing section of the newspaper, and we make no apologies for celebrating one of our own. Feelgood has been an outstanding success in its quarter-century run, thanks to its driving force, editor Irene Feighan. Ever since she took the reins back in 2000, she has ensured that standards in Feelgood's coverage match her own personal example in energy, imagination, and excellence. Over Feelgood's 25 years, it has covered the huge changes in health and wellbeing, from the importance of women's health issues to the significance of legislative changes made in that time period, from vaccination schemes to the pandemic and its consequences, and the growing awareness of mental health issues — and all points in between. True to form, the anniversary edition of Feelgood maintains those high standards and will feature four leading women in medicine who reflect on the progress made in their area — and highlight the work that remains to be done. Little wonder that President Michael D Higgins has congratulated Feelgood on 25 years of covering specific issues that make a difference. Congratulations to Irene and thank you to all the writers and readers who have supported Feelgood over the last quarter of a century.
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Irish Examiner
Age verification measures to ensure online safety to start in July
Age verification measures to watch pornography or extremely violent content on platforms in this jurisdiction will come into effect in July, despite the regulator receiving 'pushback' from some big tech firms, it has said. Coimisiun Na Meán said that measures included in the Online Safety Code which take effect this summer also include restrictions on harmful content such as cyber bullying, the promotion of eating disorders and promotion of self-harm and suicide. Online Safety Commissioner Niamh Hodnett said: 'Through all of these actions, we want to ensure that children and young people can enjoy the benefits that media brings to them, and that regulated entities take proportionate steps to protect them from being harmed.' In terms of age assurance, the regulator has previously said that simply ticking a box to say you're over the age of 18 will be insufficient under the code. Platforms to which the Online Safety Code applies include YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, Reddit, Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram, Udemy, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter). Sanctions for breaches of the code can run into the tens or hundreds of millions of euro. X, Reddit and Tumblr have taken judicial reviews against the code, with the latter two failing in their High Court bids. In the case of X, it accused Coimisiún na Meán of 'regulatory overreach' in its approach. That judicial review is set for hearing in June. Digital Services Commissioner John Evans said that, based on discussions with these platforms, they already have a 'sense of what direction different players are going and what our approach might be'. He also said that 'different platforms have different attitudes' to the code, and that the regulator has been subject to 'pushback' from some platforms regarding the obligations being put upon them. Ms Hodnett added that some had come to them 'voluntarily' to ask for guidance on how to ensure age assurance in a 'privacy compliant way'. 'That hard supervision will start in July in this regard,' she said, adding that the regulator also has concerns around AI-generated child abuse imagery being shared online.
The Irish Sun
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Disturbing AI-generated child sex abuse material ‘increasing in prevalence' as new media watchdog makes protection vow
IRELAND'S new media watchdog has warned about the rise of AI-generated child sex abuse images online. Coimisiun na Mean today launched its first three-year strategy as they vowed to protect children online and clamp down on disinformation. Advertisement The new State body will also roll out a media campaign to advise the public how to identify and report The Coimisiun was set up by the last The watchdog has this week published its first long-term plan as they look to make both online and broadcast media a safer place for children. Speaking at the launch of the plan today, Commissioner Niamh Hodnett issued a stark warning about an increase in child sex abuse images – in particular images created with Advertisement Read more on AI She said: 'There are two types we are concerned about, one is self-generated by 'The other we are concerned about is AI-generated child sex abuse material which has been made by artificial intelligence. 'Both are increasing in prevalence and we are very concerned about that.' Coimisiun na Mean has identified child protection as one of the key areas in their first three-year plan. Advertisement Most read in News Tech Live Blog In a section laying out how they will do this, the Commission say they will take on They will also run a campaign advising the public on how to make a complaint about illegal or harmful content they see online. Deepfakes more 'sophisticated' and dangerous than ever as AI expert warns of six upgrades that let them trick your eyes On disinformation, the Commission will team up with other EU regulators and State bodies, such as Executive Chair of Coimisiun na Mean, Jeremy Godfrey, said protecting young people and clamping down on disinformation were key objectives. Advertisement He said: 'Our six outcomes are ambitious and reflect our commitment to the regulation, support, and development of a media landscape that underpins fundamental rights and fosters an open, democratic and pluralistic society. 'As Ireland's media landscape evolves, we feel a unique responsibility to ensure that we shape the changing media environment to better serve Irish audiences, to uphold fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, and to protect people, especially children, from harm.'' The State body has identified six key areas it wants to focus on; children, democracy, trust, Irish culture, diversity and public safety. The Commission will promote the creation of Irish educational and cultural material specifically designed for children. Advertisement The Commission has also started preparing for the presidential election later this year where they will focus on protecting democracy and combatting disinformation in the campaign. 1 Ireland new media watchdog has warned about the rise of AI-generated child sex abuse images online
