Social Media Platforms Must Set OutClearly How They Prioritise Safety by Design or Face Tougher Sanctions
Social media companies must clearly demonstrate how safety isembedded into their products from the earliest design stage, or face strongerregulatory action, according to Malcolm Byrne TD, Chair of the OireachtasCommittee on Artificial Intelligence.
Deputy Byrne said platforms should be able to show not onlyhow they prevent harm when designing new features, but also how they canquickly withdraw or recall products that cause damage.
His comments come ahead of tomorrow afternoon’s appearancebefore the Media Committee by Google, Meta and TikTok, which Deputy Byrne is along-standing member.
He said it has long been evident that some companies’internal systems for handling complaints about online safety are failing.
“We need to see how risks are addressed at the design stage,not after harm has already occurred. Companies must also be able to show thatthey can recall faulty products or features they have introduced on the theirplatforms when it becomes apparent they are being exploited to cause harm.
“If they continue to allow seriously harmful material toremain online after complaints, they will have to explain why they should notbe treated as publishers.”
Deputy Byrne has previously argued that legislation may needto be strengthened to place greater personal responsibility on companydirectors, ensuring senior leadership is directly accountable for tacklingonline harms. He has welcomed reported moves in this direction bythe Spanish government.
The Wicklow Wexford Deputy also criticised X for declining toattend the hearing.
“For all its bravado about free speech, X has been reluctantto publicly defend its positions. X appeared in private at its last engagementwith the Committee and has now refused to appear at all.
“I can understand why employees of a company that permits thecreation and dissemination of child sexual abuse material and other harmfulcontent might not want to defend those actions. But their absence weakens thediscussion.
“It is less Hamlet without the Prince and more Othellowithout Iago.”
ENDS
