Social media firms 'have a lot to answer for' after 'extraordinarily painful' August on Ireland's roads – Tánaiste

Simon Harris said the wider issue of a breakdown in respect for authority in society needed to be examined in a way that was not 'knee-jerk'

Tánaiste Simon Harris Picture: 'I think there's a lot to unpack in terms of what's happened this August, and quite frankly, I'm not sure we can do it in a knee-jerk fashion.' Picture: Leah Farrell/ RollingNews.ie

There has been “a breakdown in respect for authority in society” amid repeated incidents this month of driving in the wrong direction, according to Simon Harris.

The Tánaiste said it has been an “extraordinarily painful” August, with the number of incidents occurring on Irish roads, including the crash on the M9 which saw five teenagers killed, as well as four members of the same family seriously injured.

Mr Harris said this was a “multifaceted” issue.

“We're seeing a lack of respect for the value of your own life. We're seeing a lack of respect and understanding of the value of human life, the lives of others.

“I think there's a lot to unpack in terms of what's happened this August, and quite frankly, I'm not sure we can do it in a knee-jerk fashion."

A soundbite or a clip doesn’t do this issue justice, he said.

“There's a broader issue here: a breakdown in respect for authority in society... Some of it's for Government, some of it's for broader society. I think we need to dig deep here to work out what is the best way to surface these issues and to examine them in a way that isn't just knee-jerk.”

It comes as the Tánaiste also accused social media firms of exacerbating illegal activity through their hosting of videos showing people driving the wrong way down motorways.

“Social media companies have a lot to answer for in relation to this. The platforming of illegal activity, the amplification of that illegal activity and almost encouraging, for lack of a better phrase, copycat activity of illegal activity,” Mr Harris said.

“The algorithms and how they can spread toxicity, division, hatred — there are real and legitimate issues that social media companies need to answer for.”

Mr Harris said the era of self-regulation for social media firms was over.

He added the decision by TikTok to refuse two invites to attend the Oireachtas media committee was “regrettable” and “disrespectful”.

The Tánaiste said he respected the ongoing investigations by gardaí and Coimisíun na Meán, but efforts by the Oireachtas were separate.

“We live in a democracy, and the people of this country have legitimate questions that they want answered and that they want information on. The people’s representatives, TDs and senators, want to be able to ask those questions,” Mr Harris said.

He said a mechanism should be found to progress this issue.

TikTok, meanwhile, has defended its services, saying it has closely monitored content posted related to the M9 crash, adding it removes content which breaks its rules.

It added it removes content glorifying violence or promoting crime, while also removing videos which could be copied.