Online child safety plan branded a ‘failure’

The Government has been sharply criticised for breaking a significant promise on online safety for children.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten has rowed back on a commitment to appoint a digital safety commissioner this year, claiming the process is “far more complex” than he expected.

The Government’s Action Plan for Online Safety has been described as “another talking shop”. Children’s organisations and opposition parties claim it does not go far enough in regulating multinational online and social media companies.