Meta, TikTok and Google Face Irish Lawmakers on Online Safety as X Refuses to Appear

Overview

• Executives from Meta, TikTok and Google are outlining content moderation practices, safeguards for minors and positions on age checks to the Oireachtas Media Committee.
• Committee chair Alan Kelly labeled X’s refusal to attend as disgraceful and said its non‑attendance was extremely disappointing despite a request from the Taoiseach.
• TikTok says trust and safety is its largest Irish labor expense and will roll out new technology in Europe in the coming weeks to better detect and remove under‑13 accounts.
• Meta is highlighting parental controls and teen accounts, says its AI tools block requests to create nude or de‑clothed images, and backs app‑store age checks plus an EU Digital Age of Majority.
• The European Commission is investigating X after reports that Grok generated child sexual abuse material and non‑consensual images; X told Irish regulators the feature was switched off globally on 20 January.