CAGE OF CONTROL
Controlling the Narrative

Ireland

Europe's regulator for Big Tech, a speech law that almost happened, spyware on the way, and a broadcaster rescued by Cabinet.

Introduction

Ireland is a small country with an outsized role. Most of the big platforms have their European headquarters in Dublin, so Irish regulators and courts shape what hundreds of millions of Europeans can see. At home, the same regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, licenses broadcasters, enforces online safety rules, approves trusted flaggers and funds journalism. The government nearly created a sweeping crime of incitement to hatred before public opposition forced it back. It is now preparing a law to extend interception to encrypted apps and legalise state spyware. And RTÉ, the national broadcaster, increasingly depends on direct government money. In my view, Ireland shows how quickly a state can become the patron, the regulator and the referee of its own information space.

Control of Expression, Speech & Information

1. Internet searches: how the government controls them

Ireland's search rules come mostly from EU law, applied to companies whose European headquarters are in Dublin. The EU Court of Justice's Google Spain ruling (2014) established that search engines are data controllers and must, in qualifying cases, remove links from name searches even where the underlying publication is lawful.[1] In Google v CNIL (2019), the court limited delisting to EU versions of the search engine.[2] Google, headquartered in Europe in Dublin, applies these rules for Irish users.

Under the Digital Services Act, Google Search and Bing are "very large online search engines" with annual systemic-risk assessment, mitigation and audit duties.[3] Coimisiún na Meán is Ireland's Digital Services Coordinator. [Needs source: Coimisiún na Meán's designation as Digital Services Coordinator and its role toward Dublin-based search providers.] [Needs source: Irish court-ordered ISP website blocking.]

Government removal requests. Irish authorities' requests to Google are modest. In January–June 2025 they sent 63 removal requests covering 116 items, 24 aimed at Web Search, most citing "regulated goods and services" (50). In the previous six months there were 46 requests, 36 of them for Web Search.[4]

2. Social media searches and removals

Coimisiún na Meán applies an Online Safety Code to video-sharing platforms based in Ireland. Since July 2025 it has required them to restrict content including incitement to hatred or violence, and to use age assurance for adult content.[5] X challenged the code in the High Court and lost on 29 July 2025.[6][7] In January 2026 X was given permission to appeal.[8] A Dublin regulator setting rules for X's Europe-wide video service is a lever of enormous reach.

Trusted flaggers. Coimisiún na Meán approves DSA "trusted flaggers." So far the only one is the Central Bank of Ireland, approved in April 2025 to flag financial scams.[9] That is a reasonable use. But the mechanism is in place, and in Germany similar status went to activist groups.

The speech law that almost happened. The Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill would have created a broad new offence of incitement to hatred. After strong public opposition, the Minister for Justice confirmed in September 2024 that the incitement provisions were being dropped.[10] Hate crime provisions, which treat hatred as an aggravating factor in existing offences, passed separately.[11] I count that as a rare case of public pressure stopping a speech law in its tracks.

What platforms report. Meta restricted access to 1,539 items in Ireland based on local law in July–December 2025, more than in France or Germany despite Ireland's small population.[12] [Needs source: explanation of that total, and Irish figures from X.]

3. Social media access and ID

Part B of the Online Safety Code took effect on 21 July 2025. Video-sharing platforms that allow pornography must use effective age assurance, and simply asking users to declare their age isn't enough.[6][13] Ireland has no statutory minimum age for social media.

The government's answer is a state digital wallet. It is piloting age verification through the government's digital wallet so that platforms can check users' ages. The pilot is voluntary and opt-in.[14][15] In February 2026 the Irish Times reported that no social media company had yet signed up, and in March that the minister responsible wanted development sped up.[16][15] Bloomberg reported in April 2026 that Ireland was testing digital ID to verify the age of social media users.[17] My concern is where it leads. Once a government wallet becomes the standard way to prove your age to a platform, the state sits at the gate of online participation.

4. Social media warrants, known or unknown to the user

Interception today. Under the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993, interception is authorised by the Minister, on application from the Garda Commissioner, the Police Ombudsman or the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, not by a judge.[18]

What's coming. In January 2026 the Minister for Justice secured government approval for a Communications (Interception and Lawful Access) Bill. It would state as a general principle that interception powers apply to "all forms of communications, whether encrypted or not," covering both content and metadata. It would create a legal basis for "covert surveillance software" to access devices and networks, and allow IMSI-catcher scanning equipment to record identifiers from mobile phones in specific areas. It would also introduce judicial authorisation for the first time.[18] The general scheme is due to be published in 2026.[18] Judicial sign-off is an improvement. But a law that explicitly targets encrypted apps and legalises state spyware is a major expansion of state power over private communications.

Metadata. After the EU Court of Justice ruled in 2022, in a case brought by Graham Dwyer, that Ireland's general and indiscriminate retention of traffic and location data breached EU law,[19] Ireland passed the Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Act 2022. It allows retention of some user and internet-source data for a year, and judge-approved retention orders on national security grounds.[20]

Notification. I found no requirement to tell people they were intercepted. Instead, a complaints procedure exists, which the new bill would keep in updated form.[18] If you don't know you were targeted, a complaints procedure is cold comfort.

What platforms report. In July–December 2025, Meta received 450 Irish requests for user data (436 legal process, 14 emergency) covering 562 accounts, and produced some data in 77.56% of cases.[21] Google received 513 legal requests (75% disclosed), 183 court orders (82% disclosed), 13 police requests and 7 emergency requests.[22]

5. Government-controlled media: print

Irish newspapers are privately owned, but a growing share of local journalism is paid for through Coimisiún na Meán. Its journalism schemes fund reporting on local democracy and the courts. Round 1 provided about €5.7 million, and Round 2 offers €6 million.[23][24] To qualify, outlets must meet eligibility conditions that include editorial standards set out in the scheme rules.[23] These sit within the wider Media Fund: in 2025 the Exchequer provided €10 million, part of at least €22.2 million for public service content beyond RTÉ.[25]

Funding court and council reporting isn't sinister in itself; local news is collapsing everywhere. But the body that regulates broadcasters and polices online safety also decides which outlets get public money to cover local politics. That is too many hats for one regulator. [Needs source: Irish government advertising spend in print.]

6. Government-controlled media: television and radio

Funding. RTÉ is funded by the €160 TV licence plus Exchequer top-ups. In July 2024 the government agreed €725 million in public funding over 2025–2027: €225 million, €240 million and €260 million.[25][26] A broadcaster whose funding is set from the Exchequer, year by year, has every reason not to antagonise the people who decide its budget.

Governance. RTÉ's board has 12 members. Six are appointed by the government on the Minister's nomination, and four more on the Minister's nomination after advice from an Oireachtas committee. The remaining two seats are the Director General and an elected staff member.[27] So ten of twelve directors reach the board through the Minister.

Licensing. Coimisiún na Meán licenses commercial and community broadcasters as well as overseeing RTÉ. [Needs source: Coimisiún na Meán broadcasting licensing powers.]

Radio. RTÉ's radio services, including Radio 1, 2FM and Raidió na Gaeltachta, are funded from the same arrangement.[25]

My view

Ireland's government didn't set out to control the information space. It set out to protect children, regulate Big Tech, fight crime and save RTÉ. But the result is a single regulator that sets rules for platforms used across Europe and funds the outlets it supervises. A state wallet is positioned as the gate to social media. A new law would legalise spyware and target encrypted apps. A broadcaster's board is mostly chosen through the Minister, and its budget set by Cabinet. And a speech law that would have criminalised incitement to "hatred" was stopped only by public pressure. In my view, Irish citizens were right to push back, and they should keep watching.

Sources

  1. CJEU, Google Spain SL v AEPD, C-131/12 (13 May 2014) — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A62012CJ0131
  2. CJEU, Google v CNIL, C-507/17 (24 Sep 2019) — https://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf?language=en&;num=C-507%2F17
  3. European Commission, "Digital Services Act: Commission designates first set of Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines" (25 Apr 2023) — https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_2413
  4. Google Transparency Report, Government requests to remove content (data download, Jul 2024–Jun 2025) — https://transparencyreport.google.com/government-removals/overview
  5. Coimisiún na Meán, Online Safety Code decision (VSPS) — https://www.cnam.ie/app/uploads/2024/12/RTC_and_Decision_Application_to_VSPS_Online-Safety-Code.pdf
  6. X Internet Unlimited Company v Coimisiún na Meán, IEHC 442, 2025 (29 Jul 2025) — https://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IEHC/2025/2025IEHC442.html
  7. RTÉ News, "X loses High Court challenge against Online Safety Code" (29 Jul 2025) — https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/0729/1525964-x-high-court-coimisiun-na-mean/
  8. The Irish Times, "X permitted to appeal High Court dismissal of challenge to regulator's online safety code" (21 Jan 2026) — https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2026/01/21/x-permitted-to-appeal-high-courts-dismissal-of-coimisiun-na-mean-safety-code-challenge/
  9. Coimisiún na Meán, "The Central Bank of Ireland awarded Trusted Flagger status" — https://www.cnam.ie/the-central-bank-of-ireland-awarded-trusted-flagger-status/
  10. The Irish Times, "Plan to introduce hate speech laws has been dropped, Minister for Justice confirms" (21 Sep 2024) — https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/09/21/minister-for-justice-confirms-plan-to-introduce-hate-speech-laws-has-been-dropped/
  11. Gov.ie, "Minister McEntee welcomes passing of hate crime legislation by Oireachtas" — https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/press-releases/minister-mcentee-welcomes-passing-of-hate-crime-legislation-by-oireachtas/
  12. Meta Transparency Center, Content restrictions based on local law: Ireland (Jul–Dec 2025 data file) — https://transparency.meta.com/reports/content-restrictions/country/IE/
  13. Coimisiún na Meán, response to media queries about implementation of the Online Safety Code — https://www.cnam.ie/coimisiun-na-mean-response-to-media-queries-about-implementation-of-online-safety-code/
  14. Houses of the Oireachtas, parliamentary question "Social Media" (28 Apr 2026) — https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2026-04-28/648/
  15. The Irish Times, "Minister wants to speed up development of social media age verification tool" (9 Mar 2026) — https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2026/03/09/minister-wants-to-speed-up-development-of-social-media-age-verification-tool/
  16. The Irish Times, "Social media firms yet to sign up to age-verification pilot" (21 Feb 2026) — https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2026/02/21/social-media-firms-yet-to-sign-up-to-governments-age-verification-pilot/
  17. Bloomberg, "Ireland Tests Digital ID to Verify Age of Social Media Users" (3 Apr 2026) — https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-03/ireland-tests-digital-id-to-verify-age-of-social-media-users
  18. Gov.ie, "Minister Jim O'Callaghan strengthens lawful interception powers" (20 Jan 2026) — https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/press-releases/minister-jim-ocallaghan-strengthens-lawful-interception-powers/
  19. CJEU, Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, C-140/20 (5 Apr 2022) — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A62020CJ0140
  20. Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Act 2022 — https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/act/25/enacted/en/pdf
  21. Meta Transparency Center, Government requests for user data: Ireland (Jul–Dec 2025) — https://transparency.meta.com/reports/government-data-requests/country/IE/
  22. Google Transparency Report, Global requests for user information (data download, period ending 31 Dec 2025) — https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/overview
  23. Coimisiún na Meán, Local Democracy and Courts Reporting Scheme, Round 2 scheme document — https://www.cnam.ie/app/uploads/2025/08/SchemeDocumentENG_LDRS_Round2_vFINAL.pdf
  24. Houses of the Oireachtas, parliamentary question on journalism schemes (8 Jul 2025) — https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-07-08/474/
  25. Gov.ie, "Minister Martin announces Government agreement on funding of RTÉ and Public Service Media" (24 Jul 2024) — https://gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/press-releases/minister-martin-announces-government-agreement-on-funding-of-rt%C3%A9-and-public-service-media/
  26. RTÉ News, "Plan for €725m public funding for RTÉ to go to Cabinet" (24 Jul 2024) — https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0723/1461464-rte-funding-cabinet/
  27. Broadcasting Act 2009, section 81 (RTÉ board) — https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2009/act/18/section/81/revised/en/html

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