The online regulator Coimisiún na Meán (CnM) has not implemented a critical government recommendation to establish an 'individual complaints mechanism,' creating a gap in child protection against online predators. This failure comes as a report indicates children as young as five are still exposed to sexual predators daily.
AI Minister Niamh Smyth announced she is seeking an urgent meeting with CnM due to mounting political pressure over the regulator's perceived inaction on social media companies. Her concerns were amplified by a recent CyberSafeKids report revealing no reduction in children's access to social media platforms, despite legal obligations enacted in July 2025 aimed at preventing such access.
The report highlighted that 70 percent of children aged eight to 12 continue to hold accounts on social media apps designated for users aged 13 and over, over a year after CnM's Online Safety Code came into effect. It also detailed disturbing accounts of vulnerable children, some as young as five, being subjected to predatory behavior including stalking, threats, and propositions in online role-play games.
Minister Smyth emphasized that CnM, which has approximately 300 employees, must demonstrate regulatory action in response to public concerns. "They are the regulators – they must be seen to regulate," Smyth stated. "They have been amply provisioned with up to 300 employees. I intend to have an urgent meeting with Coimisiún na Meán to see how they are responding to this crisis."
Further scrutiny arose when it emerged that CnM lacks the authority to compel social media companies to remove damaging or dangerous content if the companies refuse to act on user complaints. A government-appointed Online Safety Expert Group had recommended the 'individual complaints mechanism' in 2022, a proposal accepted by the then Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin. The subsequent Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Act included a provision for this mechanism.
However, CnM has not yet put this mechanism into practice. Alex Cooney, CEO of CyberSafeKids, expressed frustration, stating, "This measure was entrenched in the law and was supposed to provide a safety net... But four years on, it is not in place." Cooney added that without this mechanism, users have no recourse if a company fails to respond to or act upon a complaint, leaving children particularly vulnerable.
Minister Smyth also called for greater accountability from social media companies, warning that the government will "actively pursue companies that design harmful technology without safety belts." She drew parallels to regulated industries like alcohol and cigarettes, asserting that tech companies bear a significant responsibility for the harms their products facilitate.
This situation follows a recent $18 billion settlement Meta reached with U.S. states and territories to resolve claims of harm to children on its Facebook and Instagram platforms. Meta has also committed to implementing new child protection measures. Irish Tánaiste Simon Harris suggested the Meta settlement should prompt all social media companies to adopt similar measures globally, stating, "Social responsibility should not have to be compelled in court, but now that we have this settlement, it needs to be a breakthrough moment."
Meanwhile, opposition TDs have accused the government of failing to utilize existing powers. Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín criticized the focus on new initiatives over enforcing current regulations. Independent TD Carol Nolan argued that the failure to enforce laws preventing children's access to pornography is the core issue, describing the situation as "digital pimping."
A CnM spokesperson indicated that efforts are underway at the EU level to strengthen online child protection laws, with new legislative proposals expected during Ireland's current EU presidency. The regulator expressed anticipation in working with stakeholders to shape these changes.