EU tech bastion Ireland brings in new rules to crack down on X, TikTok

Lawmakers in the European Parliament’s internal market committee will work on this topic as part of one of their future reports, while governments are considering a minimum age for using social media or a crackdown on porn sites that don’t keep minors away with blanket blocks.

The rulebook “introduces real accountability for online video sharing platforms and requires them to take action to protect those that use their platforms, including by having robust complaints handling procedures and introducing effective age-verification,” Ireland’s Media Minister Catherine Martin said.

“It will make all of us, but particularly our children, safer online,” she added.

Platforms must comply with the general obligations by Nov. 19, while the more prescriptive rules — those that require platforms to tweak their internal systems — have a July 21, 2025 deadline.

In case of noncompliance, they face fines of up to €20 million or 10 percent of their annual turnover, whichever is greater.