Micheál Martin has warned social media companies that stricter laws will be coming down the line to crack down on the filming of public figures in their private lives where the videos are then shared online - and go viral.
The Taoiseach was speaking in the wake of the massive public response to the sharing on social media of a video of his Government partner, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, out socialising in a nightclub in Dublin the weekend before last.
The issue was a talking point after the Mirror asked Mr Varadkar about the video and reported on his calls for privacy on social media.
The Mirror asked TikTok last week, which was one of the social media platforms where the video first appeared, if they would take down the video after the public outcry, and they did, saying it breached “community guidelines.”
However, when we asked a number of other social media companies where the video is still being shared to follow suit, they all remained silent again tonight.
The Taoiseach was speaking to the Indo Daily Podcast where he said: “What happened was a breach of privacy fundamentally.
“I do accept that in the world of social media it is an ever-present reality, perhaps, or danger but what would concern me is the degree to which it could deter people from getting involved in politics.”
He added: “I think we are now entering into a new era where there’ll be far more regulation of social media platforms.”
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