Naughton to press Commissioner on EU-wide legislation to regulate social media

Fine Gael TD and Chair of the Oireachtas Communications Committee, Hildegarde Naughton, will tomorrow [Tues] press the EU Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society to propose legislation to regulate social media.

Deputy Naughton said: “I am travelling to Strasbourg today to meet the EU Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Mariya Gabriel.

“At our meeting tomorrow morning, I will press the Commissioner on the need to move away from an acceptance of self-regulation to the Commission proposing Europe-wide legislation on social media.”

Deputy Naughton will also attend a series of meetings with a number of MEPs about the need to regulate social media on a pan-European basis.

Last month, Deputy Naughton travelled to Westminster for a meeting of the International Grand Committee on Communications.

Deputy Naughton said: “Social media giant Facebook said they would welcome regulation when I questioned them at the Grand Committee. It is time for action.

“I believe that politicians are currently behind the technology curve and we all need to step up to the challenges of social media.

“The challenges posed to our democracies by fake news and harmful content are not to be underestimated.

“We must also work together to do our utmost to protect our children and the vulnerable from the worst effects of social media.”

ENDS