Coimisiún na Meán Commences First Online Safety Code Investigation Into X

Ireland's media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, has commenced its first formal investigation under the Online Safety Code, examining whether X meets requirements on age assurance and parental controls for children using the platform.

The investigation, commenced on 08 September 2026, follows reviews by An Coimisiún's Platform Supervision team, from which concerns arose over the potential ineffective implementation of age assurance mechanisms by X. Under the Online Safety Code, age assurance is required on the platform to ensure that children do not see videos depicting pornography or extreme/gross and gratuitous violence or acts of cruelty on the platform.

Separately, as X allows adult-only content while also allowing children under the age of 16 to use its service, it is required under the Code to provide parental control systems to ensure that parents and guardians have control over what type of content their children encounter. A concern exists that the parental controls put in place by X may not be effective, do not have minimum requirements, are hard to locate, and are not brought to the attention of new users at sign-up stage, as required by the Code.

The investigation will examine whether X has effective age assurance measures in place to ensure that adult-only video content cannot normally be seen by children, noting that age assurance based solely on self-declaration is not considered effective under Section 12(10) of the Code. It will also examine whether X's parental control systems are under the control of the end-user with respect to video content that may impair the physical, mental or moral development of children (Section 14(1)); whether those systems have the minimum functions required under the Code (Section 14(2)); whether X appropriately draws users' attention to the parental control systems they make available (Section 14(4)); and whether X ensures their parental control systems are provided as an option to new users on account sign-up (Section 14(5)).

John Evans, Digital Services Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, said:

"Children have a fundamental right to participate in society, which includes the digital world, and to be protected from harm, abuse and exploitation online."

Evans said An Coimisiún's primary focus in developing the Online Safety Code was protecting children from illegal and harmful content online and ensuring that parents and guardians had stronger methods to shape their children's online experiences. He added that age assurance measures based solely on self-declaration are not considered sufficient, and that platforms allowing users under the age of 16 must have parental controls which are under the control of parents and guardians, are effective and easy to locate, and are drawn to users' attention at account sign-up stage, for any parent or guardian who wishes to use them.

Today's investigation is the first under the Online Safety Code. In addition, An Coimisiún has opened five other investigations into platforms established in Ireland within just the last year under the EU Digital Services Act, and is involved in four joint investigations opened by the European Commission.

The investigation will be conducted pursuant to Part 8B of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended. If a platform is found in violation of the Online Safety Code, Coimisiún na Meán can apply an administrative financial sanction, including a fine of up to 10% of relevant annual turnover, or €20 million, whichever is greater.

For advice and support on understanding your rights online, contact Coimisiún na Meán's Contact Centre from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, on +353 1 963 7755, or by email to usersupport@cnam.ie.