Ireland
Ireland's Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 established Coimisiún na Meán (the Media Commission) as the national online safety and broadcasting regulator and gave it power to designate video sharing platforms and adopt binding online safety codes. Under the Online Safety Code adopted in October 2024, designated video sharing platforms that carry pornography or gratuitous violence must use effective age assurance so that children are not normally able to access that content, with self declaration methods such as ticking a box or entering a date of birth explicitly ruled out as insufficient. The Code's general child safety provisions took effect on 19 November 2024, and the pornography and violent content age assurance obligations became binding on 21 July 2025. Separately, section 31 of the Data Protection Act 2018 sets Ireland's digital age of consent at 16, the minimum age at which a child can consent to the processing of personal data by an information society service such as a social media platform.
National jurisdiction. Reviewed 2026-07-15.
Online Safety Code, Part B (age assurance for pornography and violent content)
Requires designated video sharing platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Tumblr and Udemy, that allow pornography or gratuitous violence to implement effective age assurance so children are not normally able to access that content. Coimisiún na Meán has stated that self declaration alone does not satisfy the requirement, though it has not mandated one specific verification method. General child safety provisions under Part A of the Code took effect on 19 November 2024, and the Part B age assurance obligations became binding on 21 July 2025.
- Citation
- Online Safety Code (Coimisiún na Meán, adopted 21 October 2024), Part B
- Status
- In force
- Effective date
- 2025-07-21
- Applies to
- Private sector
- Age threshold
- 18
- Covered services
- Designated video-sharing platforms established in Ireland carrying pornographic or gratuitous violent content
- Penalties
- Compliance notices, administrative financial sanctions, and referral for prosecution of noncompliance
- Enforcement body
- Coimisiún na Meán
- Private right of action
- no
- Source
- Online Safety Code (Coimisiún na Meán, adopted 21 October 2024), Part B
Data Protection Act 2018, section 31 (digital age of consent)
Sets 16 as Ireland's digital age of consent under Article 8 of the GDPR, the minimum age at which a child can consent to the processing of personal data in the context of an information society service offered directly to the child, including registering for a social media account. For children under 16, consent must be given or authorised by a parent or guardian. This is a data protection consent rule rather than a mandated identity verification requirement.
- Citation
- Data Protection Act 2018, No. 7 of 2018, s. 31
- Status
- In force
- Effective date
- 2018-05-25
- Applies to
- Private sector
- Age threshold
- 16
- Verification methods
- self declaration, parental consent
- Covered services
- Information society services, including social media platforms, offered directly to children in Ireland
- Enforcement body
- Data Protection Commission
- Private right of action
- no
- Source
- Data Protection Act 2018, No. 7 of 2018, s. 31
Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 (No. 41 of 2022)
Dissolved the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and established Coimisiún na Meán (the Media Commission), giving it power to designate video sharing platforms with an establishment in Ireland and to adopt legally binding online safety codes, including rules protecting minors from harmful content.
- Citation
- Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, No. 41 of 2022
- Status
- In force
- Effective date
- 2023-03-15
- Applies to
- Private sector
- Covered services
- Video-sharing platforms and broadcasting services with an establishment in Ireland
- Penalties
- Compliance notices, administrative financial sanctions up to the greater of 20,000,000 euros or 10 percent of annual turnover, and court orders
- Enforcement body
- Coimisiún na Meán
- Private right of action
- no
- Source
- Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, No. 41 of 2022
Reviewed 2026-07-15. Confidence: high. Fast-moving area, verify before relying. Not legal advice.