Social media firms 'not forthcoming' on age verification, Norma Foley claims

When asked if Coimisiún na Meán could compel platforms to introduce age verification, Norma Foley said she did not want to pre-empt the work of the online safety commissioner but said she would “certainly like to see tighter controls around age verification” introduced. File picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

Social media platforms and phone companies were “not forthcoming” when pressed on the implementation of effective age verification mechanisms, Education Minister Norma Foley has claimed.

She met the companies for a summit on online safety issues on Wednesday. While representatives from Meta, Google, Microsoft and TikTok took part, X, formerly known as Twitter, did not attend despite being invited. 

Ms Foley said it was a “very constructive and very robust” engagement. She said there was a particular focus on areas where there was “scope to do better”, such as age verification.

However, the minister said that when she sought a commitment to implement an effective age verification system, "that wasn't forthcoming at present".

She said children much younger than 13 are accessing sites which they are not supposed to adding that it is a “clear issue” for parents and schools.

“Social media providers will tell us that they have a mandate around 13 years of age, but I think we all know that there are children younger than 13 accessing these platforms,” she said.

Ms Foley said she was not prescriptive in terms of the type of mechanisms used to introduce age verification, noting that some jurisdictions use official document uploads such as passports.

“We know young people are incredibly smart, we're incredibly proud of them for that reason, and they can find a way around the age verification currently and as I say, at this point, it hasn't been forthcoming but we will continue to engage,” she said.

Telecommunications representatives, including Vodafone, Three and Tesco were asked at the summit to indicate their willingness to support parents to hold off purchasing smartphones for primary school children.

“Again, I’d have to say that was not forthcoming at this point in time,” Ms Foley said.

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The department made a call before Christmas for parents to hold off buying the devices for young children. Ms Foley said the telecommunications representatives were of the view that the issue of smartphone ownership is a “parent’s prerogative”.

“And I absolutely accept that. That's why we're working directly with parents but they were not prepared to come out in principle to support the work that we're doing in that area at this point,” she said.

“With the enormous power that they have in that field comes enormous responsibility and a duty of care,” Ms Foley added.

When asked if Coimisiún na Meán could compel platforms to introduce age verification, Ms Foley said she did not want to pre-empt the work of the online safety commissioner but said she would “certainly like to see tighter controls around age verification” introduced.

She noted a recent survey from online safety charity, CyberSafeKids, which found that children as young as six had access to smartphones, adding: “I think society, more and more is becoming aware of the inherent dangers that exist in that respect.”

Ms Foley said the Department of Education is inviting a collaborative approach but there will be “ramifications” going forward for companies who do not abide by Coimisiún na Meán’s code.