Ireland gears up to police social media giants under new EU’s DSA

Ireland’s Media Commission, led by Jeremy Godfrey, prepares to enforce the European Union’s Digital Services Act, targeting major tech players like Google and TikTok, whose headquarters is in the Irish capital.

With the Commission’s extended powers coming into effect in February 2024, they’re set to collaborate with the EU agencies to enforce social media rules, targeting issues like illegal content and digital interference. Yet, Godfrey and his team are still figuring out the implementation specifics, including collaboration with the European Commission and the division of responsibilities.

The DSA aims to combat hate speech and disinformation on major online platforms. The Irish regulator, supported by a €7.5 million allocation from the national government, is actively hiring and expanding its team to meet the challenges of overseeing digital content and enforcing the rules.

Why does it matter?

So far, only a few countries, including Ireland, France, and Italy, have designated a national regulator for the Digital Services Coordinator role. In Ireland’s case, critics in the EU expressed concerns about the country’s close ties with U.S. tech giants, fueled by attractive tax incentives, raising questions about impartiality. To address these concerns, the Media Commission is taking steps to recruit individuals from other national agencies for European coordination.