Online Safety Code Brings an End to Social Media Self-Regulation
Introduction
The European Union has taken a significant step towards protecting its citizens from harmful online content. On Monday, the Irish government published binding rules aimed at safeguarding EU users of video-sharing platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
What is the Online Safety Code?
The Online Safety Code requires video-sharing platforms to "protect people, especially children, from harmful video and associated content." The code prohibits the uploading or sharing of child sexual abuse and content that incites violence and racism. It also requires platforms to implement measures to prevent cyberbullying, provide ways for users to report content that breaks the rules, and implement age verification measures to prevent children from encountering pornography or violence.
What are the Consequences of Non-Compliance?
Companies that breach the rules face fines of up to 20 million euros ($21.7 million) or 10 percent of a platform’s annual turnover, whichever is greater.
What is the Timeline for Implementation?
The obligations will apply from next month, although platforms will have up to nine months to update their IT systems.
Which Platforms are Affected?
The code applies to platforms with their EU headquarters in Ireland. Ireland’s media regulator designated ten services as video-sharing platform services: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Udemy, TikTok, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Pinterest, Tumblr, and Reddit. The code will be applied to nine of the ten platforms, with Reddit having won the right to appeal against being designated.
What is the Vision for a Safer Online Environment?
"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," said Niamh Hodnett, Ireland’s Online Safety Commissioner.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Online Safety Code?
- The Online Safety Code is a set of binding rules aimed at protecting EU users of video-sharing platforms from harmful content.
- What are the consequences of non-compliance?
- Companies that breach the rules face fines of up to 20 million euros ($21.7 million) or 10 percent of a platform’s annual turnover, whichever is greater.
- Which platforms are affected by the code?
- The code applies to platforms with their EU headquarters in Ireland, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Udemy, TikTok, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Pinterest, and nine of the ten designated video-sharing platform services.