Irish regulator opens formal investigation into X over child access, parental controls

DUBLIN, Sept 8 (Reuters) – An Irish regulator has begun a formal investigation into social media platform X over concerns ​about potential child access to ‌material depicting pornography and violence and the effectiveness of parental controls, it said on Tuesday. Media 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. X did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Its ⁠website says the company takes a 'multi-faceted age assurance approach to verify or estimate whether users are ⁠18 ‌or under.' In its statement the ⁠regulator also cited concerns that parental ​controls ‌put in place by X 'may ​not be ⁠effective, do not have minimum requirements, are hard to locate and are not brought to the attention of new users at sign-up stage.' (Writing by Conor Humphries; editing by ​William James)