Coimisiún na Meán (CnaM) has been designated as the competent authority to enforce EU-wide rules aimed at tackling harmful online content.

The regulator will be able to impose penalties on hosting service providers who do not comply with their obligations under the EU Terrorist Content Online Regulation.

This follows the commencement by the Minister for Justice of part 7 of the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024, which gives CnaM the necessary statutory powers.

Garda orders

An Garda Síochána has already been designated as the competent authority to issue removal orders to online-service providers.

CnaM will now be able to collect fines from providers who do not fully adhere to garda orders. Providers can be fined up to 4% of their global turnover.

The EU regulation defines terrorist content as material shared online, such as the glorification of terrorist acts, that, directly or indirectly:

• Advocates the commission of terrorist offences,
• Solicits a person or a group of persons to commit or contribute to the commission of a terrorist offences or to participate in the activities of a terrorist group,
• Provides instruction on the making or use of explosives, firearms or other weapons, or
• Constitutes a threat to commit a terrorist offence.

Earlier this year, CnaM set out the decision-making process it would use to determine if a hosting-service provider (HSP) in Ireland is exposed to terrorist content online.