TikTok declines invite to discuss dangerous driving videos

TikTok has declined an invitation to appear before an Irish parliamentary committee on media to discuss the posting of videos of people driving the wrong way down motorways.

Five teenagers were killed while driving the wrong way down a motorway in County Kildare in the early hours of Sunday.

Four people – three women and a seven-year-old boy were injured – two of the women critically and the other woman and the boy seriously.

In a letter seen by Irish broadcaster RTÉ, a TikTok spokesperson said they could not attend because of the ongoing police investigation and a separate examination by Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland’s media regulator.

They also cited the fact they are the only company to have been asked to attend.

TikTok previously said it was monitoring content related to the incident and was removing videos and accounts that broke its rules.

Labour TD and media committee chair Alan Kelly wrote to TikTok requesting that its officials attend a meeting next month to what he described as “content that glorifies irresponsible or illegal activity”.

On Tuesday, Ireland’s media regulator Coimisiún na Meán said it has asked TikTok to outline how it has responded to risky and reckless driving content on its platform.

A letter sent to Kelly from TikTok’s head of public policy Susan Moss said: “Both An Garda Síochána and Coimisiún na Meán are conducting their own examinations into the matter referred to in the statement by Deputy Kelly.

“As a result, we believe it would not be possible to appear before the committee in public session until this process is completed.

“The same issues arises in relation to other social media platforms and messaging services where instances of the content complained of is present.

“However, those platforms have not been invited to appear before the committee at this time.

“TikTok does not consider it appropriate to be the sole representative of the video sharing industry in such circumstances.”

‘Slap in the face’

In a statement, Kelly said TikTok’s decision was “deeply disappointing and, frankly, unacceptable given the seriousness of the issues we are seeking to examine” adding it was “a slap in the face to the Irish public”.

He called on TikTok “to immediately reconsider its decision”.

He added: “The issue of a Garda investigation being ongoing as an excuse for not coming is a red herring, while if they want us to invite in other social media companies with them I’ve no problem with that.

“This matter is far too important for them to treat the Irish public this way.”

Attempted murder

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher has said deliberately driving down the wrong side of a motorway is akin to attempted murder.

He said legislation should be amended to reflect the seriousness of such crimes.

Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke he would support additional penalties for driving the wrong way down a motorway as suggested by Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan.

“The message needs to go out loud and clear that that will not be tolerated in any shape or form and the gratification of it on social media either is also exceptionally extreme.

“We really have to do a lot of work in this regard.”