Irish Examiner view: An Coimisiún Toghcháin is tackling false information

The electoral commission handing out information leaflets in Dublin prior to last year's presidential election. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

It seems difficult to believe that the presidential election took place as long ago as October, particularly as the campaign dominated the news for so long. Jim Gavin’s abrupt departure was, of course, the headline event, but between the revelations about Ivan Yates’s activities and the spoil your vote campaign there was no shortage of incident.

Readers may recall a brief flare of controversy shortly before polling, when a fake video of eventual winner Catherine Connolly announcing her “withdrawal” from the election surfaced on social media.

The video was among the topics discussed here this week by An Coimisiún Toghcháin chief executive Art O’Leary in a wide-ranging interview with Sean Murray.

O’Leary pointed out that, up to now, many of the fake videos which circulated online were clearly fabricated, but the Connolly video was an instance where he and his colleagues had to contact Meta, the social media platform where it was shared, in order to have it taken down. It was duly removed as a matter of urgency, but the video was still shared many times online before being taken off the platform.

O’Leary pointed to the positives, saying the case shows “what can happen when there is an obvious case here”.

“Now some cases aren’t as immediately obvious, or maybe some of the social media companies won’t be as co-operative either, but the system works if you build relationships.”

It is encouraging, certainly, that An Coimisiún Toghcháin has built those relationships, but there is a wider, worrying trend here which must be considered.

It is acknowledged that efforts are being made to undermine the integrity of elections in many democratic jurisdictions, and online disinformation campaigns are an obvious way to do so. As Mr O’Leary pointed out, in the case of the Connolly video, the authorities were able to act swiftly. However, it is quite possible that future elections may see an “army of chatbots”, in his phrase, spewing out false information — a problem which would be far more challenging for any regulatory body to combat.

Digital literacy is certainly one possible answer. Another would be provided by legislation compelling digital media platforms to behave responsibly, unlikely though that prospect might be.

Gambling regulator has an important task

As the new year dawns, a new State body is about to swing into serious action. The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland is to begin its licensing regime this year, which requires all companies offering products in Ireland to be licensed.

The authority has said its investigations unit will be equipped to manage legal enforcement actions such as civil proceedings, adjudication for administrative sanctions, and criminal prosecutions by the third quarter of 2026.

This development is not before its time, given the staggering explosion in gambling in recent years. Last October, the Central Bank of Ireland reported that its data showed spending on gambling was “spiking” more than 20% year-on-year.

It would be disingenuous to presume that this growth in spending was entirely down to responsible, measured gambling. Addiction experts have warned that some people may be gambling to try to offset their expenses in an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

“If their food shop increases by 50%, they might see it as a way to split the difference,” addiction counsellor and Extern Problem Gambling project manager Barry Grant told Sean Murray, adding: “There are also 300,000 in arrears on their electricity bills. That would concern me.” 

Mr Grant pointed out that one significant issue for gambling addicts is the non-stop barrage of advertising they face, particularly online.

Readers will surely concur that there seems to be no shortage of aggressive advertising for the gambling industry (and no lack of celebrities willing to shill for that industry, though that is another issue). The dizzying onslaught of advertisements offering free bets, free spins, and various other incentives appears to be everywhere. Many of those advertisements frame gambling as simultaneously an enjoyable communal activity as well as a solitary, furtive pursuit, but such contradictions do not obscure the common goal: To get people to gamble.

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland has difficult challenges ahead, given the way gambling has wormed its way into the heart of Irish society, but it deserves all the support it needs for this necessary work.

MTV shuts five music channels

The term “end of an era” is often overused, but one decision which came into effect on New Year’s Day certainly justifies its use. MTV has shut many of its music channels around the world, with five stations — MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live — going dark.

The station first started broadcasting music videos back in 1981, and it would be difficult to overstate its cultural impact. It soon became a huge promotional platform for musicians.

Instead of simply recording songs, they had to create visual accompaniments — videos — which could be shown on MTV.

Readers may recall videos from the likes of ZZ Top, Michael Jackson, and Peter Gabriel which became cultural touchstones. That all ended this week, though MTV is expected to continue broadcasting reality shows, which have proved enduringly popular, on its other channels.

When MTV Music shut down, the last video it played before the lights went out was The Buggles’ Video Killed The Radio Star — the first video aired when MTV launched in the US back in 1981.

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