After the Taoiseach’s comments on misinformation, it is time for real action on the issue and not just more empty promises

Following the horrors in Carlow and the stream of misinformation that spread since Sunday, An Taoiseach has said today that we need to tackle the issue.

Green Party Spokesperson for Expenditure, Digitalisation and Media Cllr Hazel Chu voiced her frustration at the lack of real action from this Government in relation to misinformation and the constant claim that we need to do something but in fact nothing is being done.

Cllr Chu said:

"We don't need yet more empty words, we need real action to tackle misinformation online something that the Programme For Government has clearly shown to be lacking. If this Government is serious about misinformation, then they need to take action to turn off automatic recommender systems by default - they are handing a megaphone to those who want to spread poison through social media. They are the engine driving the problem and ultimately undermining our democracy." 

Automatic recommender systems are the algorithms that control what you see on social media. They feed the user constant manipulation to drive the companies' profits and have been shown time and time again to be the cause of significant harm and to drive misinformation. 

Cllr Chu added:

"Alongside switching off auto-recommender systems the Data Protection Commission needs to get serious about meaningful privacy and tackle big tech. There is vacancy still on the Data Protection Commission which the Minister for Justice needs to stop delaying over and fill. It should be filled with someone willing and able to take on big tech and real-time bidding in a meaningful way. The engine of automatic recommenders are being fuelled by the massive on-going data breach that is real-time bidding". 

Real time bidding is the system behind online advertising. It gathers and collates huge amounts of data about individuals and packages it up for sale. Every time you see an ad online your personal and private information has been shared around the world. It enables the profiling and tracking of you online, and turn the megaphone of hate and misinformation all the way up to 11.  

Cllr Chu finished by saying:

"The Government can act and must act - tackling auto-recommender systems and tackling real-time bidding will be far more effective than yet more hand wringing from An Taoiseach.”