Connected Magazine

Jess Kelly: Ireland’s online safety commissioner is going to have her hands full

Is meaningful regulation of tech companies possible?

Niamh Hodnett, the new online safety commissioner. Picture: Naoise Culhane

We’re nearly six months on from the establishment of Coimisiún na Meán, the body that has the gargantuan task of regulating broadcasting and online services. As you may know, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland was folded into the body, with new portfolios added in to include social media, video-on-demand services and other online offerings.

One of the five key roles in this organisation is that of the online safety commissioner. This is something that has ...