Slow online moderation 'endangering' society - Burke
Social media companies are "endangering" society by failing to remove content depicting dangerous and illegal activity, the Minister for Enterprise has said.
An Irish MEP has warned that online moderation issues with TikTok could put society at risk. Barry Andrews, a Fianna Fáil Dublin MEP, accused the social media giant of showing disrespect for Ireland by refusing to attend a committee hearing. The platform has faced calls to answer questions over content depicting dangerous and illegal activities, following a collision on the M9 motorway that killed five teenagers.
TikTok has declined to appear due to an ongoing garda investigation, a separate examination by Coimisiún na Meán, and its status as the only company invited to the hearing. However, committee chair Alan Kelly suggested TikTok could join other social media companies in appearing before the committee. Andrews called for the European Commission to activate legal clauses allowing for the temporary suspension of TikTok in Europe, stating that the company's refusal to appear is unacceptable and shows a lack of respect for Ireland as the host country.
The minister for enterprise, Peter Burke, also called for TikTok to attend the Oireachtas Media Committee, emphasizing the social media companies' responsibility to moderate dangerous content.
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