Ireland’s media regulator Coimisiún na Meán has confirmed it is in active contact with TikTok over concerns about videos promoting dangerous and reckless driving on the platform.
The regulator reached out to the social media giant looking for more information about how TikTok is handling this type of content, which has been flagging as a growing concern among road safety advocates and officials alike.
Reckless driving videos have become a persistent problem on social media, with clips of dangerous stunts, speeding, and other risky behaviour behind the wheel regularly racking up views and engagement. Critics have long argued that platforms like TikTok are not doing enough to remove this content or stop it from spreading to younger audiences.
Coimisiún na Meán, which oversees online platforms operating in Ireland under EU digital rules, wants to understand exactly what steps TikTok is taking in response to this material. Ireland plays a particularly important role here given that TikTok’s European headquarters are based in Dublin, meaning Irish regulators have significant oversight responsibilities under the EU’s Digital Services Act.
The Digital Services Act, which came into full force last year, puts serious obligations on large platforms to identify and reduce risks linked to harmful content. That includes content that could encourage dangerous behaviour, particularly among younger users who make up a huge chunk of TikTok’s audience.
Road safety has been a serious issue in Ireland in recent times, with fatalities on Irish roads causing widespread concern. Any content that glamourises speeding or reckless driving is seen as potentially contributing to dangerous attitudes, especially among young drivers and passengers.
The regulator has not yet said whether any formal enforcement action is being considered, but the fact that it has gone directly to TikTok for answers signals that this is being taken seriously. Coimisiún na Meán has been steadily building up its role as a key enforcer of digital content rules in Europe since the DSA framework came into effect.
TikTok has faced scrutiny from regulators across Europe on a range of issues, from data privacy to the impact of its algorithm on young people’s mental health. The platform has repeatedly said it invests heavily in safety measures and content moderation, but critics argue the scale of the problem continues to outpace those efforts.
For now, the two sides are in dialogue, and the regulator is waiting on more detail from TikTok about its policies and actions around dangerous driving content. How that conversation develops could determine whether further regulatory steps are taken down the line.