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The Journal
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Ireland faces top EU court over delay in removing terrorist and bomb-making content online
IRELAND IS BEING taken to the European Union's top court for failing to follow key rules on removing terrorist and bomb-making content from the internet. The European Commission announced today that it has referred Ireland, along with Bulgaria and Portugal, to the Court of Justice of the EU, as the government has not fully implemented the Terrorist Content Online (TCO) Regulation. The regulation requires countries to make sure terrorist content is taken down from websites and social media platforms (within one hour of being told to do so). The rules, which came into effect in June 2022, are meant to stop extremist groups from spreading propaganda, recruiting people, or encouraging attacks online. Under the regulation, terrorist content includes any material that promotes or glorifies terrorist acts, encourages others to join or support terrorist groups, gives instructions for making or using weapons or explosives, or threatens to carry out an attack. The regulation also covers content related to explosives precursors — substances and materials that can be used to make bombs and other explosive devices. TCO regulation is designed to ensure that this type of content is removed swiftly to limit its spread and potential harm. Advertisement According to the Commission, Ireland has not met several basic requirements under the regulation. These include appointing and notifying a competent authority to issue and enforce removal orders, setting up a public contact point to handle questions and complaints about those orders, and putting in place a system of penalties for companies that fail to comply. Delayed Irish response While the Commission said that the Irish government has made some progress, it added it came too late and still falls short of full compliance. It wasn't until September 2024 – over two years after the rules came into force – that Coimisiún na Meán was appointed to handle penalties on service providers for breaches of the TCO Regulation. At the same time, the government confirmed that An Garda Síochána would act as the authority responsible for issuing takedown orders for terrorist content. The Commission has criticised the delays, arguing that these steps should have been in place much earlier to ensure effective enforcement. It had already warned Ireland in January 2023 through a formal notice, followed by a legal opinion in February 2024. With those concerns still unresolved, the Commission has now referred the case to the Court of Justice. If the court finds that Ireland has failed to meet its legal obligations, it could face financial penalties. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Ireland referred to EU court over failure to comply with online terrorism content law
The Terrorist Content Online (TCO) Regulation requires extremist material to be taken down by an EU Member state within one hour of receiving a removal order from a law enforcement agency. It was introduced in 2022 to counter the spread of extremist ideology online in order to prevent attacks and radicalisation. The European Commission today said it considers that Ireland, along with Bulgaria and Portugal, have failed to comply with one or more obligations under the TCO Regulation. 'This includes the requirement to designate the authority or authorities responsible for enforcing the Regulation and ensuring compliance, and to notify the Commission of those authorities; to establish a public contact point to handle requests for clarification and feedback in relation to removal orders; and to lay down the rules and measures on penalties in case of non-compliance of hosting service providers with their legal obligations,' it said in a statement. The EU Commission sent letters of formal notice to the three countries in January 2023 for failure to comply with the obligations, and sent 'reasoned opinions' early last year, outlining the alleged breaches and requesting that measures are taken to address these within a specified time. 'The Commission is now referring these Member States to the Court of Justice of the European Union, as it considers that they have not yet addressed all the concerns raised in the letter of formal notice and reasoned opinion and have still not complied with one or more obligations under the Regulation,' it added. The EU's infringement procedures state that most cases are settled before being referred to the court but, if Ireland fails to communicate measures that implement the provisions of a directive in time, the commission may ask the court to impose penalties. Last September the then Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, designated Coimisiún na Meán as the competent Irish authority under the TCO Regulation to impose penalties on hosting service providers who do not comply with their obligations. Coimisiún na Meán were given the power to impose administrative fines on hosting service providers up to 4pc of global turnover, for infringements of the TCO Regulation. An Garda Síochána is the authority competent in Ireland for issuing removal orders. ADVERTISEMENT The EU Commission says that the TCO Regulation has been instrumental in countering the spread of terrorist online content, enabling the swift removal of the most heinous and dangerous material. 'Terrorist and violent extremists use online platforms to spread terrorist and harmful content, gather funds and recruit. Vulnerable users, particularly minors, are being radicalised online at an alarming rate,' it said. The regulation notes that the services of hosting service providers 'are in certain cases abused by third parties for the purpose of carrying out illegal activities online. Of particular concern is the misuse of those services by terrorist groups and their supporters to disseminate terrorist content online in order to spread their message, to radicalise and recruit followers, and to facilitate and direct terrorist activity.'
RTÉ News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Ireland accused of failure to comply with European online terrorism rules
The European Commission is to refer Ireland, Bulgaria and Portugal to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to comply with certain obligations under the Terrorist Content Online (TCO) Regulation. The TCO Regulation, which became applicable on 7 June 2022, requires that terrorist content in the EU is taken down by online platforms within one hour upon receipt of a removal order issued by Member States' authorities. The Commission said that Ireland, Bulgaria and Portugal have failed to comply with one or more obligations under the TCO Regulation. "This includes the requirement to designate the authority or authorities responsible for enforcing the Regulation and ensuring compliance, and to notify the Commission of those authorities; to establish a public contact point to handle requests for clarification and feedback in relation to removal orders; and to lay down the rules and measures on penalties in case of non-compliance of hosting service providers with their legal obligations," the Commission said in a statement. "The Commission is therefore referring Bulgaria, Ireland and Portugal to the Court of Justice of the European Union," it added. The Department of Justice has been contacted for comment. In September 2024, the Department announced that the media regulator Coimisiún na Meán had been designated as the competent Irish authority to impose penalties on hosting service providers who do not comply with their obligations under the TCO Regulation. An Garda Síochána was announced as the authority competent in Ireland for issuing removal orders. Terrorist content refers to material shared online that, directly or indirectly, such as by the glorification of terrorist acts, advocates the commission of terrorist offences. The regulation covers content that solicits a person or a group of persons to commit or contribute to the commission of a terrorist offence or to participate in the activities of a terrorist group. Also covered is content that provides instructions on the making or use of explosives, firearms or other weapons, or content that constitutes a threat to commit a terrorist offence.
