X Faces Irish Investigation Over Child Safety and Age Verification Controls

Ireland's media watchdog, Coimisiún na Meán, has initiated a formal investigation into social media platform X over its child safety measures. The probe, which commenced on Tuesday, will assess whether the company complies with the country's new Online Safety Code, marking the first such investigation under the legislation.

Scope of the Probe

The investigation centers on X's systems for age verification and parental controls. Coimisiún na Meán stated it will examine whether the platform has implemented "effective age assurance measures" to prevent children from accessing adult-only video content, which includes pornography and extreme violence.

Under the Online Safety Code, age verification based solely on a user's self-declaration is not considered effective. The regulator will also scrutinize X's parental control systems to determine if they meet minimum requirements, are easy for users to locate, and are clearly presented during the sign-up process as mandated by the code.

Ad

Potential Penalties and Regulatory Context

If found in violation of the code, X could face significant financial penalties. Coimisiún na Meán has the authority to impose fines of up to €20 million or 10% of the company's relevant annual turnover, whichever amount is greater. The platform's policy of allowing children under 16 to use its service while also permitting adult content is a key area of regulatory focus.

Digital Services Commissioner John Evans emphasized the responsibility of platforms, stating that services accessible to children that host adult-only content "must ensure such content cannot normally be accessed by children." This investigation in Ireland reflects a broader European trend, with countries including France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands also pursuing stricter measures to enhance child safety on social media.