State age verification for websites an ‘important first step’, says Harris

A State age verification system for social media and other websites is an “important first step”, Ireland’s deputy premier has said as he argued the protection of children cannot be left to the companies themselves.

The Irish Government is preparing a system where age verification for certain websites will be checked against an individual’s Personal Public Service Number (PPSN).

On Safer Internet Day, Irish deputy premier Simon Harris said there was significant evidence around social media algorithms affecting children through addiction and “doomscrolling”.

He said: “Our children are not safe on the internet – simple as.”

Mr Harris said there was a need for a minimum age to access social media, adding that this was “not radical” when viewed through the lens of restrictions on smoking, drinking and voting.

He has said that age should be set at 16.

The Government has called for an EU-wide approach but has not ruled out introducing its own measures in the interim.

Speaking to reporters before Cabinet on Tuesday, Mr Harris said: “I’m absolutely not in favour of sitting by idly and waiting for Europe to act, what I am saying, though, is (it is) preferable if Europe moves together.

“Because that provides greater consistency and greater potential for children, it’s probably easier to implement and operate, and it just provides greater certainty.”

Mr Harris expressed support for the approach of his Fine Gael colleague and Communications Minister Patrick O’Donovan on the PPSN system.

He said: “You can’t have a minimum age if you can’t verify age – and I don’t think we can leave it to the social media companies or outsource to tech companies the protection of our children.

“So bringing in a State age verification system is an important first step, and then we’ll at that stage have to make a call as to whether we can all move together at the European level, or whether we should plough on at a domestic level.”