Calls for 'increased transparency' from tech giants on tackling disinformation

The Oireachtas committee on European affairs called for a 'speedy resolution' to the application of An Coimisiún Toghcháin's legal power to compel social media companies to take down disinformation and deal appropriately with online political advertising.

The Oireachtas committee on European affairs has said there “needs to be increased transparency” from tech giants on how they will tackle disinformation.

The committee has also urged “enhanced enforcement powers” for An Coimisiún Toghcháin, the Electoral Commission.

It called for a “speedy resolution” to the application of the commission's legal power to compel social media companies to take down disinformation and deal appropriately with online political advertising.

These provisions have been the subject of examination by the European Commission to ensure they comply with a directive on the same issues it is finalising.

The European affairs committee held hearings last February and March with both An Coimisiún Toghcháin and Coimisiún na Meán, the Broadcasting Commission.

An Coimisiún Toghcháin is concerned with disinformation affecting the electoral process and is mainly active during the election campaign and voting, whereas Coimisiún na Meán has a wider role in combating online harm and disinformation.

The committee also met with Eileen Culloty of Dublin City University and Media Literacy Ireland as well as representatives from European Movement Ireland.

The European Parliament elections are being held on June 7, the same day as the local elections.

In its report, the committee recommended:

• A pan-European approach to combating misinformation and disinformation and for An Coimisiún Toghcháin to contract external expertise with European and election experience;
• The Government consider the Finnish model of media literacy, where a state body works with its ministry of education on building citizens’ media literacy from early childhood;
• There needs to be increase transparency on the commitment made by tech giants (called 'very large online platforms' or VLOPs under the EU Digital Services Act) on the actions they are taking and the guidelines they have agreed with Coimisiún na Meán;
• These VLOPs need to ensure increased transparency on social media around direct marketing, data mining, and targeted and sponsored advertising;
• A review of all polling stations to ensure that “only fully accessible” buildings are used;
• Increased use of postal voting and consideration of proxy voting for certain people;
• Updating of electoral registers to ensure people who have put their details on it are included;
• Enhanced enforcement powers for An Coimisiún Toghcháin and a speedy resolution to the application of parts 4 and 5 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022. 

The report said that both the UN and the EU have warned of increased misinformation and disinformation (intended misinformation).

It said European Commission vice president Vera Jourova had said that there was “a wave of cheaply produced disinformation campaigns pushing Kremlin and Chinese narratives and amplified by social media headed for the EU”. She expected it to accelerate in the 20 days before the June election.

The committee said that many of the VLOPs, such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube, have their EU headquarters in Ireland.

It said the European Commission is responsible for enforcing the Digital Services Act and Coimisiún na Meán is the national co-ordinator for Ireland.

In a letter to the committee, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said parts 4 and 5 had to be “brought into alignment” with the commission regulation on this area.

However, he said the Digital Services Act did impose regulations on the providers of digital services, including “significant obligations” on online platforms.

He said he was in contact with both An Coimisiún Toghcháin and the technology sector to agree on a “set of principles” over the coming period.