DUBLIN — The Irish government is cracking down on hate speech and harmful content online under its Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Crimes) Bill, which aims to update the 1989 Incitement to Hatred Prohibition Act.

The bill would hold social media executives personally accountable for delays in removing hateful and hostile content from their digital platforms.

The code is expected to come into force in the coming months and could potentially result in millions of euros in fines for companies found to be violating it.

“Social media companies must take responsibility and be accountable for what happens on their platforms,” says James Lawless, Irish Minister of State for Climate and Communications.

“Ultimately, they are the host and they make a profit by publishing this content online, so they have to have some obligation to pay attention, monitor and manage what is hosted,” he added.

The crackdown was accelerated as Irish ministers faced increasing online threats.

Ireland’s Prime Minister Simon Harris is said to have created a sense of urgency to take tougher measures against social media companies.

“We cannot tolerate social media being seen as some kind of Wild West, not being subject to the same laws and regulations as a newspaper – it is a form of media,” said Taoiseach Simon Harris.

Technology experts believe that imposing heavy fines on social media companies is likely to produce positive results in the coming years.

“Most technology companies are likely to comply with this new Coimisiúin na Mean code of conduct because they are required to do so and because it is backed by the Digital Services Act, an EU-wide law with very high fines,” said Adrian Weckler, technology correspondent at the Irish Independent. — Euronews