Ireland's data protection authority has initiated formal investigations into two major social media platforms, TikTok and LinkedIn, over concerns they may not be adequately reporting illegal content on their networks. The probes, launched in early December 2025, focus on the companies' compliance with the European Union's stringent Digital Services Act (DSA).
Scope of the Irish Regulatory Probes
The investigations by the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) centre on whether the platforms have fulfilled their legal obligations to detect and report material that is illegal under EU law. The DSA mandates that large online platforms, designated as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), must implement robust systems to identify and report such content to authorities. Both TikTok and LinkedIn fall under this VLOP classification due to their massive user bases in Europe.
While the specific types of illegal content under scrutiny were not detailed in the initial announcement, the DSA covers a broad spectrum, including hate speech, terrorist propaganda, child sexual abuse material, and illegal hate speech. The Irish regulator, which serves as the lead supervisory authority for many major tech firms with their EU headquarters in Ireland, is examining the processes and transparency of the companies' reporting mechanisms.
The Legal Framework and Potential Consequences
The Digital Services Act represents one of the most ambitious attempts globally to regulate the digital space. It imposes a duty of care on platforms to manage systemic risks and requires transparent reporting protocols. Failure to comply with the DSA can result in substantial fines, up to 6% of a company's global annual turnover. For tech giants, this could translate into penalties worth billions of dollars.
These investigations signal a more aggressive enforcement posture from European regulators. Ireland's DPC has faced criticism in the past for the pace of its inquiries into big tech companies. The simultaneous launch of two high-profile probes suggests a concerted effort to assert the DSA's authority and ensure platforms are held accountable for the content they host and disseminate.
Broader Implications for Social Media Governance
The outcome of these probes will be closely watched across the tech industry and by regulators worldwide. They serve as a critical test case for the practical enforcement of the DSA. A finding of non-compliance could force not only TikTok and LinkedIn but also their competitors to overhaul their content moderation and reporting systems significantly.
This action also highlights the evolving and complex role of national regulators within the EU's framework. As the lead authority for numerous tech firms, Ireland's DPC decisions have a de facto impact on the entire European digital market. The investigations underscore the increasing global pressure on social media companies to move beyond self-regulation and submit to external, legally-binding standards for managing harmful and illegal content online.