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Three platforms must act on ‘terrorist content’

The online-safety regulator Coimisiún na Meán (CnaM) has ordered three social-media platforms take measures to protect their services from being used for the dissemination of terrorist content.

The move follows the watchdog’s finding that TikTok, X, and Meta (in respect of Instagram) services were ‘exposed to terrorist content’ under the Terrorist Content Online Regulation.

The regulation is an EU-wide mechanism aimed at combating the dissemination of terrorist content online and enabling the speedy removal of such content by service providers.

Removal orders

Service providers that receive two or more final removal orders from competent EU authorities within the last 12 months can be found to be exposed to terrorist content.

CnaM said that it had made its decision after being notified of two or more such orders linked to the three platforms concerned, and after engagement with these firms.

As well as taking measures to protect their services from such content, TikTok, X, and Instagram will have to report to CnaM on the measures taken within three months.

“Among the measures a hosting service provider exposed to terrorist content is required to take is the inclusion in its terms and conditions of provisions to address the misuse of its service for the dissemination to the public of terrorist content,” the regulator stated.

Financial penalties

Providers can face financial penalties if they continue to infringe the regulation.

Terrorist content is defined in EU law as material that:

• Incites the commission of terrorist offences, such as by the glorification of terrorist acts,
• Advocates the commission of terrorist offences,
• Solicits a person or a group of persons to commit or contribute to the commission of terrorist offences,
• Incites, solicits, threatens or provides instruction on the commission of terrorist offences,
• Solicits a person or a group of persons to participate in the activities of a terrorist group,
• Provides instruction on the making or use of explosives, firearms, or other weapons, or noxious or hazardous substances, or other specific methods or techniques for the purpose of committing or contributing to the commission of terrorist offences, or
• Constitutes a threat to commit a terrorist offence.

The regulation is part of CnaM’s Online Safety Framework, which also contains the Digital Services Act, and the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act.