Galway West TD Hildegarde Naughton will be working with the EU Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society to create Europe wide legislation governing social media.
The Fine Gael TD has agreed to serve as the link between the Commissioner and the Grand International Committee on Disinformation and Fake News where she represents Ireland.
Deputy Naughton said its time for governments to impose some rules on social media giants.
“I met with Mariya Gabriel this morning to emphasise the need to move away from an acceptance of self-regulation to the Commission proposing Europe-wide legislation on social media.”
“She has agreed to work with me towards regulating social media, with EU-legislation as a long term goal.”
The Grand Committee is made up of representatives from the parliaments of Ireland, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Latvia, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
Together they represent some 400 million Facebook users.
The committee met last month, inviting Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to appear and answer questions about the spread of fake news on his platform.
Zuckerberg, who has also been called to appear before multiple national parliaments, declined the committee’s request.
From January, Deputy Naughton said, EU Commissioner will be seeking monthly reports from social media companies about advertising, the use of citizens’ data, and fake accounts.
“I have been asked to be the link between the EU Commission and the Grand International Committee on this issue.”
“The Grand Committee met last month and I will invite the Committee to Dublin in 2019 to continue its work,” Deputy Naughton concluded.
