X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, has lost a High Court challenge against Coimisiún na Meán’s Online Safety Code.
The company had accused the Irish media regulator of “regulatory overreach” by imposing the rules, which require video-sharing platforms to protect users from harmful content.
In a judgement today, Mr Justice Conleth Bradley said he did not agree that X was entitled to reliefs sought by way of judicial review.
X had argued that the provisions of Part B of the Online Safety Code go further than what was required in transposing the EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD).
Mr Justice Bradley found that the provisions of the code are within the authority of the AVMSD and the 2009 Act, and are entirely complementary to the EU’s Digital Services Act and not in conflict with it.
A spokesperson for Coimisiún na Meán said it welcomed the court’s judgment and will study it in full before commenting further.
In recent days, X introduced new age assurance measures in a bid to comply with the Irish Online Safety Code, as well as UK and EU regulations.
Under provisions of the code that came into force on 21 July, video-sharing platforms that allow pornography must have effective age assurance measures.
Last week, Coimisiún na Meán said it had not seen evidence of measures taken by X to comply with the code.
It contacted the platform and asked for an explanation by last Friday.
Coimisiún na Meán received a reply from X on Friday outlining the new measures which the regulator is now studying.
In an online help centre post, X said it will take a multi-step approach to verification.
This will include age assurance using existing signals, as well as age estimates using email addresses and social connections.
X said it is also planning user-involved verification options which will include facial recognition and uploading IDs.
