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)