Government’s hand forced on fines for social media giants

Communications Minister Denis Naughten is to consider giving a new digital safety commissioner powers to fine social media companies like Facebook.

A spokesperson for Naughten told The Sunday Business Post that he would be open to fines “if that’s what’s deemed necessary. You can’t have a commissioner without any teeth”.

Naughten’s comments come as the government strives to regain the initiative on the issue from Fianna Fáil, which last week said it would ...