Irish Examiner view: 'The Com' targets children in lawless online world

Europol and An Garda Síochána warn of the online network grooming children into violence and sexual abuse

Cormac O'Keeffe wrote in the 'Irish Examiner' on Wednesday about 'The Com' on foot of warnings from Europol and An Garda Síochána about the dangers to children of the platform. Picture: iStock

A gnawing fear for many parents relates to something which goes on in their own homes. Who are their children communicating with on their smartphones and laptops, and to what end?

In recent days, we have seen why people may have good reason to be nervous about such activity. 

Cormac O’Keeffe reported here on the concerns of European police forces — and those of other jurisdictions — about an online network whose users are encouraged to inflict violence on themselves and others. 

The European police agency Europol has reported that the network, called The Com, is engaged in child sexual exploitation, cyberattacks, extortion, assault, rape, murder, and violent extremism.

It is also “largely composed of children, aged between eight and 17”, according to the agency.

This is a shocking revelation: That children far too young to vote or drive are engaging with each other in such a toxic online environment, harming themselves and others. Europol does not mince its words about the threat being posed here, stating: 

The network is extremely dangerous, and combatting it is a national priority in several member states and third countries. 

Perhaps we should not be too shocked about the lawlessness of the online environment. 

By an unhappy coincidence, this story emerged just as another EU body was addressing the issue of online harm. 

On Wednesday, the European Commission issued a preliminary finding against tech giant Meta for allegedly failing to prevent minors aged under 13 from using Instagram and Facebook, adding that flaws in Meta’s operating system are in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA).

An aspect of 'The Com' that parents will find particularly shocking is that the vicious grooming network is 'largely composed of children, aged between eight and 17'. Picture: iStock

This is far from the first instance of Meta failing to ensure child safety online. Just last month, for instance, a US court fined Meta $375m in civil penalties after finding that it had misled consumers about the safety of its platforms.

If legitimate companies are not protecting children when they are online, then it cannot be a surprise that illegal networks are targeting underage users. It is hard not to view the online space as becoming ever more lawless and unregulated, not less.

At least three different Garda agencies are focused on this latest threat, and they deserve all the support and resources they can get.

HSE probes autism charity 

The Health Service Executive (HSE) confirmed this week that it is looking into the financial, contractual, and governance records of an autism charity amid allegations that the charity moved significant funds to the UK without HSE approval.

Tadgh McNally reported here that senior staff at Autism Initiatives Ireland (AII) raised concerns about €1.5m of HSE funds allegedly being moved out of the State for support services — and about the fact that “very few” services were being provided by its UK and Northern Irish counterparts after those funds were moved.

HSE chief executive Anne O’Connor speaking at the recent IMO conference. As Tadgh McNally reported this week, Ms O’Connor has ordered a probe of Autism Initiatives Ireland. Picture: Shane O'Neill/Coalesce

The HSE has since stated that all funding provided to the charity was only to be used for providing services within Ireland.

Such stories tend to raise familiar questions. In an age when matters of financial governance and compliance are pressing considerations for all organisations, could €1.5m simply be transferred out of the country? The HSE stipulation that such funds should be kept in Ireland seems unambiguous.

It should also be pointed out that concerns were first raised about the funds allegedly being transferred as far back as 2019, while governance issues were flagged with the HSE four years ago. 

Little wonder Public Accounts Committee chairman John Brady said this week: “It is also shocking to hear that governance and compliance concerns at the charity were first flagged internally within the HSE in 2022. This raises the question, what action has been taken since?”

Taking that length of time to fully address this issue does not instil confidence in the charity, while the delay also has a general impact on perceptions of the charity sector, and not a positive one. 

Observers with a negative view of standards of compliance in the sector are hardly motivated to make donations to charity, even though many charities are heavily reliant on such donations to survive.

However, those who badly need such services are the ones who truly suffer when charities malfunction or donations dry up. For their sake, clarity is badly needed here.

Barraí Mescall RIP

Journalist Barraí Mescall was laid to rest in Cork this week. He passed away in the Mercy University Hospital last Friday at the age of 74.

Mr Mescall had a long and distinguished career in broadcast journalism. Going back to 1974, he was one of the first people taken on by the then-new RTÉ Radio Cork, where he stayed until 1996.

TG4 cameraman Reggie McCrohan and reporter Barraí Mescall at the 2005 National Ploughing Championships in Mogeely, Co Cork. Mr McCrohan was one of many people who paid tribute to the late Mr Mescall on RIP.ie this week. File picture: Dan Linehan

He then moved to the Irish-language station Teilifís na Gaeilge, which was duly renamed TG4 in 1999, and he worked there until retiring in 2017.

Though he was a mainstay of TG4, many readers in the deep south will also have fond memories of Mr Mescall’s years on RTÉ Radio Cork, broadcasting with the likes of Alf McCarthy, Caimin Jones, and Donna O’Sullivan.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin paid a warm tribute: “A journalist in the old school, of the old school, who always revelled in getting the scoop, and getting the exclusive.

“A decent man, a very sound person, and to Jo and his family, we extend our deepest sympathies.

“He will be a loss to his journalistic colleagues, and to the world of journalism.”

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.