Ireland's Striking Resemblance to Communist China
Ireland’s media regulator, the Coimisiún na Meán, recently overhauled the Online Safety Code. The revised Code has now been sent to the European Commission for evaluation.
This should concern all Irish citizens, largely because the Code resembles censorship legislation. One of the most worrying aspects includes the introduction of age verification measures, labeled as "age assurance." These measures aim to establish enforceable guidelines for video platforms headquartered in the European Union, with a significant focus on those based in Ireland.
The European Commission is expected to deliver its verdict on the Code within the next three to four months. Following this, the regulations will be finalized and enforced, according to the regulator. Once approved by Brussels, the final version of the Code will require platforms to ban the upload or sharing of videos related to cyberbullying, self-harm, suicide promotion, and eating disorders.
Additionally, the Code encompasses a wider range of prohibited content, including materials that incite hatred or violence, terrorism, child sexual abuse, racism, and xenophobia.
While the Code’s primary intention is to protect children and regulate a broad spectrum of harmful content, some stakeholders have expressed dissatisfaction with its scope. The Hope and Courage Collective (H&CC), an organization dedicated to combating far-right hate, has voiced concerns about the Code's perceived inadequacies in ensuring election security and safeguarding communities targeted by hate speech.
The regulator has emphasized that the Code will utilize "age assurance" measures to protect children from inappropriate content and enforce age verification protocols. However, the contentious aspect of age verification extends beyond its intended purpose, focusing on the practical challenges of its implementation.
Despite these concerns, the Irish regulator is confident that the new Code, alongside the EU's Digital Services Act and the Terrorist Content Online Regulation, will provide a robust framework to enhance online experiences.
However, the broader implications of such regulations should spark a debate on the direction of digital governance in the Western world. A few decades ago, it was widely believed that China, through the adoption of capitalism, would evolve into a society that values freedom and individual rights. Today, the reality appears to be starkly different. Instead of China embracing Western values, it seems that Western countries, including Ireland, are increasingly adopting practices reminiscent of China's governance model.
Mass surveillance, policing of language, silencing dissent, and indoctrination in schools are becoming more prevalent in the West. From an individual perspective, this shift can be alarming. For control obsessed western governments, making western populations more akin to China's tightly controlled populace might seem like a logical move. A controlled population is easier to manage, influence, and direct. This isn't rocket science; it's modern-day politics.
Ireland’s revised Online Safety Code is a reflection of this trend. While its stated goal is to protect vulnerable groups and maintain online safety, its broader implications suggest a move towards more stringent control over digital content and communication. The introduction of age verification, while aimed at safeguarding children, raises concerns about privacy and the potential for abuse. How will people be identified? Will the identification process involve the use of biometrics? Where will the data be stored? Will it be safe from hackers? So many questions.
The Code’s comprehensive list of prohibited content, while seemingly in the public interest, also poses risks. Defining and enforcing these categories could lead to overreach and unintended censorship. For instance, terms like “promotion of eating disorders” or “inciting violence” can be subject to interpretation, potentially stifling legitimate discourse and criticism. After all, in 2024, some words are now deemed "violence."
Moreover, the enforcement mechanisms required to uphold these regulations will likely pave the way for increased surveillance and data collection. The idea of "protecting the kids" sounds wholesome and uncontroversial. However, in their bid to shield the youth, government authorities are poised to infringe upon the privacy rights of the general populace.
The comparison to China’s model of governance is not without merit. China’s approach to digital control involves extensive surveillance, strict content regulation, and harsh penalties for dissent. As Western democracies, including Ireland, adopt similar measures, there’s a risk that the balance between security and freedom will tip unfavorably towards the former.
This shift towards greater control is not just a technological issue but a political one. Governments might argue that these measures are necessary for safety and security, but they also consolidate power and limit individual freedoms. The revised Online Safety Code is a clear example of surveillance creep. The people of Ireland should remain on high alert.