Harris: Social media firms 'platforming illegal activity'

The Minister for State with responsibility for Road Safety, Seán Canney, convened a meeting of senior officials from various government departments, including Transport, Justice, and the Road Safety Authority, on Friday. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss motorway road safety, following several recent incidents on Ireland's motorway network.

Canney emphasized the complexity of the issue, stating that it requires a multifaceted approach and cannot be easily resolved. Tánaiste Simon Harris also spoke about the crash in Co Kildare, in which five teenagers were killed, attributing the breakdown in societal respect for authority and human life to the proliferation of social media.

Harris criticized social media companies for "platforming illegal activity" and accused them of exacerbating the problem through algorithms that spread toxicity and encourage copycat behavior. He further criticized TikTok for refusing to attend an Oireachtas committee hearing, calling the decision "regrettable, disrespectful, and unhelpful."

Harris urged social media companies to cooperate with the Dáil and stressed the need for a broader investigation into the deep-seated societal issues surrounding motorway safety.