Minister for Communications Richard Bruton will today announce plans for new internet safety laws that would see the appointment of an Online Safety Commissioner with powers to prosecute and fine companies who break the rules.
Under existing laws, online platforms must remove material which is a criminal offence to disseminate. But for some time campaigners have been calling for tougher regulations to govern internet and social media content, as well as the appointment of a regulator to enforce them.The Online Safety Act would see serious cyber-bullying prohibited, as well as content that promotes self-harm, suicide, or prolonged nutritional deprivation.
It will also include procedures for dealing with complaints and the removal of material within certain time frames.
Why should companies police us or our children? I can see why the government wants it, access to our data and money from companies through fines, but logically why is this needed why can parents not control what their kids do?