The code introduces obligations on video-sharing platforms to protect people, especially children, from harmful video and associated content.

It requires platforms to prohibit the uploading or sharing of harmful content on their services including cyberbullying, promoting self-harm or suicide and promoting eating or feeding disorders as well as incitement to hatred or violence, terrorism, child sex abuse material, racism and xenophobia.

It also requires them to use age assurance to prevent children from encountering pornography or gratuitous violence online and have age verification measures in place as appropriate, and to provide parental controls for content which may impair the physical, mental, or moral development of children under 16.

The platforms will also have to ensure that they have ways for people to report content that breaks the rules, and act on those reports in line with their terms and conditions.

The general obligations contained in the code will apply from next month and platforms will have an implementation period for certain detailed provisions, which require IT build, to come into compliance.

Coimisiún na Meán’s online safety commissioner Niamh Hodnett said: “The adoption of the online safety code brings an end to the era of social media self-regulation.

“The code sets binding rules for video-sharing platforms to follow in order to reduce the harm they can cause to users. We will work to make sure that people know their rights when they go online and we will hold the platforms to account and take action when platforms don’t live up to their obligations.”   

Jeremy Godfrey, executive chairperson of Coimisiún na Meán, said: “With the adoption of the online safety code, all the elements of our online safety framework are now in place. Our focus now is on fully implementing the framework and driving positive changes in peoples’ lives online.

“Our message to people is clear: if you come across something you think is illegal or against a platform’s own rules for what they allow, you should report it directly to the platform. Our contact centre is available to provide advice and guidance to people if they need help.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris welcomed the adoption of the online safety code as a “significant step forward in ensuring a safe online environment, in particular for our children and young people”.

“The online safety code sends a strong message to social media platforms that they will be held accountable for how they protect those who use their sites from harmful video content,” he said.

“I welcome that the code is backed up by strong sanctioning powers which will see fines of up to €20 million or 10 per cent of a platform’s annual turnover.”

Catherine Martin, the minister for tourism, culture, arts, Gaeltacht, sport and media, added: “I welcome Coimisiún na Meán’s adoption of its first online safety code. Building upon the foundation set out in the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, this code is a major step forward in online safety.

“It introduces real accountability for online video sharing platforms and requires them to take action to protect those that use their platforms, including by having robust complaints handling procedures and introducing effective age-verification. It will make all of us, but particularly our children, safer online.”