Irish media regulator opens formal investigation into X over child access

DUBLIN, Sept 8 (Reuters) - ⁠Ireland's media regulator has begun ⁠a formal investigation into social media ‌platform X over compliance with provisions on age assurance and parental controls, it said on ​Tuesday. The regulator, Coimisiún na ⁠Meán, has the ⁠power to apply a fine of up to ⁠10% ‌of relevant annual turnover under Ireland's Online Safety Code. Under ⁠the code, age assurance is required ​to ensure ‌that children do not see videos "depicting ⁠pornography or ​extreme/gross and gratuitous violence or acts of cruelty," the regulator said in ⁠a statement announcing the investigation. It ​said concerns had arisen in relation to the "potential ineffective implementation of age assurance ⁠mechanisms by X," adding that age assurance based solely on self-declaration is not considered effective. "A concern exists that the ​parental controls put in ⁠place by X may not be ​effective, do not have ‌minimum requirements, are hard ​to locate," it added. (Writing by Conor Humphries; editing by William James) Thank you for your report! Related News Islamic scholars must understand technology, 'read the times', says Zahid Vietnam, Japan seek stronger cooperation in science, technology and digital transformation Don't just use technology, create it, Anwar tells young scientists