Welcome for Publication of Online Safety Code but Tech Platforms Need to Show Commitment - Malcolm Byrne
Published on: 21 October 2024
X’s slashing of its human content moderation teams of deep concern
Senator Malcolm Byrne has welcomed today’s publication by Coimisiún na Meán of the binding Online Safety Code and details of the Online Safety Framework that will require tech platforms to take more seriously the challenges of addressing online harms.
He noted positively that addressing harmful content and harmful advertising aimed at children and young people, as well as incitement to hatred and protection of democracy are priorities. The Gorey based Senator also welcomed the importance attached to emphasising media literacy.
Senator Byrne, who is Vice-Chair of the Oireachtas Media Committee, the committee that considered the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, said,
“The Online Safety Commissioner, Niamh Hodnett, has certainly achieved many of the hopes we had for this office in ensuring that online safety will be a bigger priority for the tech companies and the end of the era of self-regulation. While the test will be in the enforcement of the new Code, it is a step forward.
“The challenge will be while some platforms are much more proactive about addressing online harms, others have engaged less with the regulatory process and are not committing to effective content moderation.”
He criticised X (formerly Twitter) for its continuing slide into “an abyss of disinformation and misinformation and allowing online harms go unchallenged”.
Pointing out that X had 5,500 human content moderators in November 2022, when Elon Musk took over, that number has since more than halved to 2,500.
“Artificial Intelligence can be effective at some level of content moderation but an organisation also needs human oversight and a culture of commitment to tackling online harms," he said. "While no platform is perfect, X’s record is very concerning.”
Senator Byrne welcomed the active engagement of the Youth Advisory Committee in the development of the Codes. The establishment of this Committee was an initiative of Senator Byrne in the development of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act.
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