Irish lawmakers summon TikTok over videos glorifying dangerous driving
Five male teenagers died in a crash on Sunday while driving on the wrong side of a motorway, seriously injuring three women and a child in another car who were travelling to Dublin Airport, police said. Footage purporting to be taken from the car, and from other cars engaged in dangerous activity, has been shared widely on social media.
Ireland's parliament has summoned TikTok to address the dissemination of videos encouraging illegal driving practices. Five young men died in a motorway collision while traveling on the wrong side of the road, severely injuring four others. Footage of such reckless driving has been widely shared on the platform. Lawmaker Alan Kelly, chair of the arts, media, communications, culture, and sport committee, urged TikTok to take meaningful action.
The social media giant stated they were monitoring the content and removing offending videos and accounts. Ireland's media regulator requested the company provide a detailed account of its measures against dangerous driving content. Police unions revealed that rival gangs of young men were competing to create the most outrageous videos of their illegal antics.
The government pledged to provide police with any necessary resources and suggested making driving the wrong way down a motorway a distinct offense. Irish police plan to train officers in vehicle pursuit tactics by year-end. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan issued a stern warning against intentionally driving the wrong way on motorways, stating that such actions would result in either imprisonment or death.
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- Irish lawmakers summon TikTok over videos glorifying dangerous driving channelnewsasia.com
