Irish lawmakers summon TikTok over videos glorifying dangerous driving
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An Irish parliamentary committee has asked TikTok to explain how it removes content that glorifies illegal road activity, after police said young people drove on the wrong side of motorways for social media likes. Five male teenagers died on Sunday in a crash while driving the wrong way on a motorway, and three women and a child in another car were seriously injured.
Key Facts
- TikTok declined to comment on the invite, but earlier said it was removing videos and accounts that break its rules.
- Ireland's media regulator asked TikTok on Tuesday for a "full account" of measures taken over risky and reckless driving content.
- The government has proposed making driving the wrong way down a motorway a separate offence.
- Irish police plan to introduce vehicle-pursuit training to officers before the end of the year.
- A body representing police officers said gangs of male youths have been trying to outdo each other with social media videos of interactions with police and driving against traffic.
Wrong-Way Motorway Crash
Five male teenagers died on Sunday while driving on the wrong side of a motorway, and three women and a child in another car were seriously injured. Footage purporting to be taken from the car, and from other cars engaged in dangerous activity, has been shared widely on social media. A body representing police officers has said numerous gangs of male youths have been trying to outdo each other with social media videos of interactions with police and driving against traffic on motorways.
TikTok and Government Response
A parliamentary committee asked TikTok to explain how it removes content that "glorifies ... illegal activity" on Irish roads. TikTok declined to comment on the invite, but earlier this week said it was closely monitoring content and removing videos and accounts that break its rules. Ireland's media regulator on Tuesday asked TikTok for a "full account" of what measures it has taken over risky and reckless driving content. The government has promised police any resources they need and has proposed making driving the wrong way down a motorway a separate offence. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan warned anyone considering intentionally driving the wrong way down a motorway: "You'll end up in jail or you'll end up in a grave."
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Irish lawmakers summon TikTok over videos glorifying dangerous driving
