Ireland
Ireland’s online safety regime is anchored in the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, which established a single statutory regulator, Coimisiún na Meán. The Commission is responsible for protecting users, particularly children, from harmful online content and practices.
Coimisiún na Meán replaced the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and regulates both broadcasting and online media services.
Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022
The Act provides the statutory basis for:
- Regulation of broadcasting and online media
- Adoption and enforcement of an Online Safety Code
- Oversight of harmful online content
Coimisiún na Meán
Coimisiún na Meán is responsible for:
- Enforcing Ireland’s Online Safety Code
- Monitoring harmful online content, including:
- Child sexual abuse material
- Extreme violence
- AI-generated harmful content
- Issuing compliance notices and administrative sanctions
- Acting as Ireland’s Digital Services Coordinator under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA)
The Commission may impose significant financial penalties for non-compliance.
Online Safety Code
From July 2025, Ireland’s Online Safety Code introduced binding requirements for certain categories of online platforms, particularly:
- Video-sharing platforms
- Platforms hosting adult or extremely violent content
Key requirements include:
- Implementation of effective age assurance measures to prevent children from accessing unsuitable material
- Risk mitigation measures for harmful content
- Compliance reporting and cooperation with the regulator
Penalties for non-compliance can reach:
- Up to €20 million, or
- 10% of annual turnover, where applicable
Major global platforms have deployed age assurance measures in Ireland in response to these obligations.
Ireland’s National Age-Verification Tool (“Mini-Wallet”)
In 2025, the Irish government confirmed it is developing a national age-verification tool integrated with MyGovID.[1]
Key features include:
- Designed as a privacy-preserving age assurance solution
- Intended to provide an alternative to private-sector ID scanning
- Developed to assist platforms in meeting the requirements of the July 2025 Online Safety Code
The tool is not currently mandatory for all websites but is intended to support compliance with age assurance obligations under Irish law.
GDPR and Children’s Data
The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies directly in Ireland.
GDPR requires personal data to be processed lawfully and imposes enhanced safeguards for children’s data.
Implications for online services include:
- Services must not rely on consent unless they can reliably establish a user’s age
- Where the digital age of consent applies, platforms must verify eligibility before relying on consent
- Processing of children’s data and special category data requires:
- Heightened safeguards
- Risk assessments
Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) enforces GDPR, particularly for major technology companies headquartered in Ireland. Coimisiún na Meán must take data protection compliance into account when applying online safety obligations.
Digital Services Act (DSA)
The Digital Services Act (DSA) applies directly in Ireland.
Under Article 28 DSA, platforms likely to be accessed by minors must take appropriate and proportionate measures to protect children, including:
- Restricting access to harmful or age-inappropriate content
- Protecting minors’ privacy, safety and security
- Addressing systemic risks linked to recommender systems and platform design
In July 2025, the European Commission issued child safety guidelines under Article 28. While not legally binding, these guidelines are widely treated as practical compliance benchmarks.
As Ireland’s Digital Services Coordinator, Coimisiún na Meán supervises DSA compliance domestically in cooperation with EU institutions.
[1] https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debateRecord/joint_committee_on_arts_media_communications_culture_and_sport/2025-11-26/debate/mul%40/main.pdf?