He has called for strengthened legislation on such content on social media
Parents of children who have been victims of assault in Kildare say they are struggling to move on due to the content of the incidents often being visible on social media.
That's according to Kildare North and Fine Gael TD Joe Neville, who has raised the issue of anti-social behaviour in his constituency.
Speaking yesterday (12 November), Deputy Neville spoke about his concerns regarding the behaviour and it's presence on social media platforms.
He called on the Department of Justice, alongside the Department of Culture, Communication and Sport to "review and strengthen legislation on the sharing of anti-social behaviour on social media in Ireland".
"Recently, in my constituency of Kildare North, we have seen an increase in antisocial behaviour, which is being filmed, posted and shared on social media.
"Some of these videos have included violent attacks on young adults by people their own age, which are distributed around apps such as Snapchat and WhatsApp," he added.
Neville also said he has met with three separate sets of parents and victims in relation to three different assaults, remarking that they all spoke of "how difficult it was to move on from the incidents afterwards", since the videos were still on social media.
"I have highlighted this matter with the Garda Commissioner at the Committee of Public Accounts and I now ask that Coimisiún na Meán, which falls under the Minister's new remit, reviews this matter and strengthens legislation to ensure, alongside gardaí, that these videos are taken down immediately and social media posts are brought to the Garda's attention as evidence later."
In response, acting Communication Minister Peter Burke acknowledged the concerns raised by the Leixlip native, adding that social media companies have a "significant obligation" to the victims of crime and communities not to keep content on their platforms that can be "very distressing".
Newbridge Family Resource Centre To Benefit From €4m Investment To Support Social Enterprises
Progress Continues In Search Of New Carbury/Derrinturn Community Centre
Some Council Services Affected Due To Microsoft Outage
Leixlip Revealed As Sixth Busiest Driving Test Centre In Ireland
Kfm Obituary Notices
46-Turbine Wind Farm Application Lodged For Kildare/Offaly Boglands
Section Of M4 Eastbound Closed Due To Incident
