Consultation launched on proposals to create Online Safety Commissioner

Richard Bruton

Communications Minister Richard Bruton today announced plans for a new Online Safety Act, which would end “the era of self-regulation” for online and social media companies.

The law would create an Online Safety Commissioner along the lines of the Australian e-Safety Commissioner, with responsibility for ensuring online service providers take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of their users.

The minister has proposed either creating the Online Safety Commissioner as a “powerful office” within a new Media Commission, formed by restructuring the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), or as a new regulatory body alongside the BAI.

The two options are now going out to a short consultation, which Mr Bruton said “worked very well” for the consultation on reforming the role of religion in school admissions.

Mr Bruton said: “I urge all parents and students, all teachers, all industry and groups who have views on these issues and who have concerns about possible impacts to make their views known so that we can take them into account as we develop legal proposals which are implementable.”

He added: “Following the consultation period, I will bring a draft heads of bill to government setting out a detailed plan for how we will make progress.”