Ireland’s media regulator is investigating X for failing to protect minors from explicit content. The probe could lead to massive fines and force changes to platform controls.
X, the social platform owned by Elon Musk, is facing a formal investigation by Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán. The regulator is looking into whether X’s age checks and parental controls meet the requirements of Ireland’s new Online Safety Code. If X is found in breach, it could face fines of up to 10% of its annual turnover or €20 million, whichever is higher.
The investigation centers on whether X is doing enough to keep minors away from pornography, violent videos, and other harmful material. This is the first time the Online Safety Code, which came into force in July 2025, has triggered a full investigation of a major global platform. Regulators are focusing on how X verifies users’ ages and how easy it is for parents to control what their children see.
The Online Safety Code, enforced since July 2025, extends child protection requirements to all video-sharing platforms operating in Ireland.
Coimisiún na Meán’s team flagged X after reviewing its systems and finding that age checks may not be effective, and that parental controls are either hard to find, don’t meet minimum standards, or aren’t clearly shown to new users. The regulator has said that simply asking users to declare their age is not enough, and is examining how X presents parental controls during sign-up.
Under the Code, X must have strong age checks to keep minors from seeing adult content. X currently relies on signals like previous age verification, legacy verified accounts, and account creation dates. If those are missing, X estimates age using email addresses and social connections, and has considered options like live selfies or government ID uploads. But the regulator has made clear that self-declaration alone does not meet the standard, and that parental controls must be easy for parents or guardians to use and access.
The outcome of this investigation could change how publishers and creators distribute and monetize content on X. If X is forced to overhaul its age gates and parental controls, it could affect how audiences are segmented, how ads are targeted, and what compliance costs look like. The case also highlights the challenge for platforms that mix adult content with under-16 users, which may require changes to onboarding and user education, not just technical fixes.
X claims to use a multi-faceted age assurance approach, including previous verification signals, legacy verified accounts, and account creation dates, to identify users under 18. However, regulators remain unconvinced that these measures are sufficient to protect minors from harmful content.
- Legal.EconomicTimes
John Evans, Digital Services Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, has said that platforms open to children and hosting adult-only video content must block such material from minors. He also said parental controls must be under the control of parents or guardians, easy to find, and clearly shown at account creation. The regulator’s position is that platforms cannot shift responsibility to users or rely on weak technical solutions. According to The Next Web, the regulator believes X’s parental controls may be "hard to locate" and not clearly explained to new users.
This is not the only case underway. In the past year, Coimisiún na Meán has opened five other investigations into platforms based in Ireland under the EU Digital Services Act, and is involved in four joint probes with the European Commission. X announced last July that it was rolling out new age assurance features to comply with Irish, UK, and EU rules, but the regulator’s latest action suggests those steps have not met legal requirements.
For digital media operators, the message is clear: regulators expect real, user-friendly controls for minors and parents. Platforms that fall short will face fines and be forced to make changes that could affect traffic, revenue, and reputation. X’s situation is a warning for other publishers and tech companies that treat compliance as a formality. Regulators now expect concrete, transparent protections, not just surface-level fixes.
According to public filings, X reported global revenues of more than $4 billion in 2025, with Ireland as a key European base. The platform claims hundreds of millions of active users worldwide, but has faced growing regulatory pressure across the EU since Musk’s takeover. The Online Safety Code is part of a wider European effort to hold digital platforms accountable for child safety and content moderation, with Ireland playing a central enforcement role. The outcome of this investigation could set a precedent for how platforms balance open access with regulatory demands in the future.
