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Re-classification of social media platforms

In need of European Union’s collective power

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.
Sat Aug 10 2024 - 01:05

Sir, – Nick Armstrong (Letters, August 8th) says it all in relation to the havoc being facilitated globally by unrestricted social media platforms, and also the solution: the rejection in law of the “platform” argument used by social media companies and their formal legal classification as publishers.

This would expose them to current legislation in relation to defamation, privacy and regulatory oversight.

These companies, however, are often more powerful than states and wield huge influence through employment and investments – nowhere more so than in Ireland.

The only chance we have of reining these companies in is through the collective power of the European Union.

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We need to find ways of escalating this issue with our Government and with our domestic and European representatives.

It sounds like they get it, but progress on this simple re-classification is dangerously slow. – Yours, etc,

JOHN GRIFFIN,

Kells,

Co Meath.