The MEG seeks to collaborate with online platforms, in an effort to tackle the wider issue of online abuse, and to develop a coordinated and standardised approach to incidents involving media personnel.
More broadly, the Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Act provides for a regulatory framework for online safety, which is applied and enforced by Coimisiún na Meán (Ireland’s media and online safety regulator).
As part of this, Coimisiún na Meán is currently developing its first online safety code, which will apply to video-sharing platform services established in Ireland and is expected to be adopted in the coming months. The broad aim of the online safety code is to provide for systemic obligations that protect online users, and children in particular, from some of the most serious forms of harmful online content and to ensure online services are operating suitable user reporting and redress mechanisms.
Trainings for journalists and media professionals
In 2023, training seminars were held on crime prevention, where an Garda Síochána presented on both personal protection and suggested ways to interact with a hostile group; and online safety, where online platforms presented the practical tools available to journalists to increase online safety.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has legal and equality senior officials which provide advice, assistance and training to members, and has also created an online safety toolkit which is available on its website.
