Irish Examiner view: Public input too much for new body

Media commission

Catherine Martin, minister responsible for the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill.

Recommendations for a new State watchdog to regulate harmful content online will further draw tech companies into a reality they have frequently sought to deny — that they are a publisher and must take some responsibility for the content that appears on their platforms.

They have long resisted this proposition. Originally, they encouraged lawyers to present a so-called “hosting” defence, arguing that although they provided the infrastructure, they could not be expected to moderate commentary and opinions.