TikTok must explain how it tackles content glorifying illegal activity
TikTok must explain how it tackles content glorifying illegal activity - The Labour Party
Labour’s Alan Kelly TD, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, has invited TikTok to appear before the Committee in September. The meeting will take place on Wednesday 23rd September 2026.
The invitation follows TikTok’s confirmation that it is closely monitoring content related to the deaths of five teenage boys in a head-on collision on the M9 motorway in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The Committee is seeking clarity on how TikTok identifies and removes content that glorifies irresponsible or illegal activity, particularly where such content could encourage behaviour that places people in danger.
Deputy Kelly said:
“The deaths of five young people on the M9 was an appalling tragedy. My thoughts are with their families, friends and communities, as well as those injured and the emergency services who responded to the scene.
“In the aftermath of this tragedy, serious questions have arisen about the circulation of social media content which appears to glorify dangerous and illegal behaviour on our roads.
“TikTok has said it is closely monitoring content related to this incident. As Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, I have invited TikTok to come before the Committee so that we can understand precisely what steps it takes when this type of content appears on its platform.
“We need to know how quickly TikTok can identify and remove videos that glorify reckless or illegal behaviour, how it prevents harmful content from being amplified to wider audiences and what safeguards it has in place, particularly for younger users.
“I expect TikTok to engage fully with the Committee and set out the concrete measures it is taking to tackle content that glorifies dangerous and illegal activity. We need meaningful action from social media platforms to ensure harmful content is not amplified or normalised.”