Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2022-05-31
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Alice-Mary Higgins (IND), National University of Ireland

I move amendment No. 194a:
In page 93, line 36, after "content" to insert "presented in a manner".
It was brought to our attention by a number of people that this section is not clear. The text of the Bill, which reads, "Online content by which a person applies force to the body of another, or causes another to believe on reasonable grounds that he or she is likely immediately to be subjected to such force", is very unclear. This could mean dance, martial arts or anything. It was only from further examination that it became clear the intention is for this to be about how the way online content is presented has an impact. This addresses situations such as the use of flashing images, which could provoke a risk of seizure or could have a negative physical impact on the viewer at home. As it is worded, it can be read as meaning the online content. It is unclear.
We suggest two ways to amend this. One is for the Bill to state: "online content presented in a manner". It is about the way in which the content is presented applies force through flashing images or other unsuitable measures. Another potential way would be to give an example. This would retain the Bill's language and add: "(including the sending of flashing images to people with photo-sensitive epilepsy with intent to induce a seizure)". I was trying to give an example of it. A number of people who read it were unclear as to what was meant. I appreciate the intent and I am agreeable to the intent of the Minister but I wonder whether the language might be made a little bit clearer. I have suggested two ways and I am open to any other way she suggests.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2022-05-31/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:50:31+00:00
Sitting date: 2022-05-31