TikTok, Instagram & Facebook decline to appear before Oireachtas committee

After the report of the Future of Media Commission was shared, several social media companies have been invited to appear before the Oireachtas Media Committe, but they declined.

The video sharing platform TikTok and Facebook and Instagram's parent company Meta both declined the invitation in writing, while Twitter was not responding at all.

The social media companies were asked to appear before the committee on April 19 to discuss their future business models and long-term goals for the media sector.

Dualta Ó Broin, the Head of Public Policy at Meta Ireland, responded with an email to the committee stating that Meta can only provide limited information on this matter, which the committee would already be aware of.

"As a result, having considered the request carefully, I can't see the benefit to either side of Meta attending this proposed session," Mr Ó Broin wrote.

"Meta welcomes the opportunity to engage with the Joint Committee, and would be happy to do so where the subject or focus of the proposed discussion is clear and where the Committee is engaging with all relevant stakeholders within the internet ecosystem," he added.

On behalf of TikTok, Susan Moss, TikTok's Head of Public Policy and Government Relations, wrote a letter stating that TikTok did not participate in the public consultation on the Future of Media Commission. As a result, it declined the invitation to appear.

"TikTok endeavours to be open about our approach to building trust and safety among our Irish and global community and we would welcome a future opportunity to engage with the Committee on TikTok's approach to data governance and our Trust & Safety operations here in Ireland," Ms Moss wrote.