ECJ Fines Ireland €2.5M for Online Content Oversight

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has imposed a fine of €2.5 million on Ireland for not implementing an EU directive meant to regulate online content. Ireland’s failure to bring video-sharing platforms under the directive’s scope caused the fine. The goal of the EU directive is to eliminate hate speech and shield children from offensive material. 

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ECJ imposed Heavy Fine on Ireland for its Failure to Regulate Online Content

In addition to the lump sum, Ireland is also subject to a daily penalty of €10,000 until they comply with the directive. The court ruled that Ireland failed to enact necessary legislation and regulations by the deadline and did not properly communicate their efforts to the European Commission. 

While accepting the judgement, the Department of Media in Ireland stated they would carefully review it and emphasised their commitment to implementing the directive. They highlighted the ongoing work of the new media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, in finalising the Online Safety Code, which will be part of a broader online safety framework. 

The department also defended the delay, citing the need to establish a robust and legally sound framework to minimise the risk of legal challenges. The finalised codes will ultimately contribute to a safer online environment and stronger regulation of streaming services in Ireland. 

Coimisiún na Meán recently published a list of 10 designated video-sharing platforms, including major players like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. However, Reddit has reportedly challenged their inclusion on the list through legal action.