Ireland

National jurisdiction · as of 2026-07-15

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.

Instruments on record

Online Safety Code, Part B (age assurance for pornography and violent content)

In force

Online Safety Code (Coimisiún na Meán, adopted 21 October 2024), Part B

Effective 2025-07-21 · Applies to private

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.

Age threshold	18
Penalties	Compliance notices, administrative financial sanctions, and referral for prosecution of noncompliance
Enforcement body	Coimisiún na Meán
Private suits	no

Source: Online Safety Code (Coimisiún na Meán, adopted 21 October 2024), Part B

Data Protection Act 2018, section 31 (digital age of consent)

In force

Data Protection Act 2018, No. 7 of 2018, s. 31

Effective 2018-05-25 · Applies to private

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.

Age threshold	16
Verification methods	self declaration, parental consent
Enforcement body	Data Protection Commission
Private suits	no

Source: Data Protection Act 2018, No. 7 of 2018, s. 31

Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 (No. 41 of 2022)

In force

Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, No. 41 of 2022

Effective 2023-03-15 · Applies to private

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.

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 suits	no

Source: Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, No. 41 of 2022