In October, the Irish media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, adopted the Online Safety Code. This code establishes binding rules for video-sharing platforms based in Ireland, such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, to protect users, especially children, from harmful content and inappropriate audiovisual commercial communications.
The new code is part of Ireland’s implementation of the EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive. The code specifically prohibits commercial messages that are harmful to the general public or children (defined as individuals under 18 years old) and requires video-sharing platforms to ensure the recognizability of commercial messages, including user-generated content. Platforms must also implement stricter measures for age verification, parental controls, and content moderation to protect users, particularly children, from online abuse, hate speech, and explicit content.
Under the “country of origin” principle, this regulation will affect the operations of platforms across the EU. General obligations come into effect on November 19, with full compliance required by July 21, 2025.
