Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members]
Dail Éireann — 2026-03-04
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Thomas Gould (SF), Cork North-Central

"Artificial intelligence, AI,-powered recommender systems are feeding millions of children toxic content about eating disorders, self-harm, and graphic videos...", according to the Irish Examiner last year. This is something parents have been saying for years and still there is no urgency from the Government to tackle this. Years later, it is failing to act. Young girls are being forced into eating disorders and young boys are being taught to hate women. I love social media and I can see positives in social media. I connect with my constituents, people all over the world and my family and friends but it is like driving a car. I have to wear a safety belt, have a driving licence, take safety precautions and the car has to be fit to drive. I cannot just get in and do it. When it comes to social media, there are no protections for young people and children. It is a free-for-all at the moment. It is disappointing that the Minister is not supporting this Bill. It is really disappointing that this Government is not doing more. We are not looking to ban social media. We are looking to regulate it and to put solutions in place. Children and young people are being failed by this Government. The onus is on the Minister now to rethink, adopt this Bill and work with us. We will all work together for the safety of young children.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-03-04/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:43+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-04