Election Commission 'prepared' to tackle online disinformation to protect democracy

Gardaí have already commenced a criminal investigation into the role of far-right online agitators and their potential role in the riots last Thursday.

The newly-established Electoral Commission is “prepared” to regulate online disinformation in the run-up to elections, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

Art O’Leary, the chief executive of the Electoral Commission, An Coimisiún Toghcháin, said the Government has yet to commence parts of the legislation that will give it powers to regulate online political advertising and online disinformation around elections, but that it will be soon hiring experts in the digital space to work in these areas.