Irish regulator opens formal investigation into X over child access, parental controls

Dublin, September 8: Ireland's media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, has launched a formal probe into social media platform X over potential child access to pornographic and violent content and the efficiency of its parental controls, a statement revealed on Tuesday. The regulator has the authority to impose fines up to 10% of a company's annual turnover under the Online Safety Code.

The investigation stems from concerns regarding X's alleged ineffective implementation of age assurance mechanisms, which are meant to prevent minors from viewing explicit or violent content. The regulator highlighted that age assurance based solely on self-declaration is not deemed effective. X's website states that the company employs a multi-faceted approach to age assurance, but the regulator also raised concerns over the effectiveness and visibility of X's parental controls, noting that they lack minimum requirements, are difficult to find, and are not highlighted at the sign-up stage. X has not yet commented on the probe.