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.