Niamh Hodnett to chair global newtork of online safety regulators

Niamh Hodnett to chair global newtork of online safety regulators

Pictured: Niamh Hodnett (third from right) with other senior officials from member organisations of GOSRN.

Ireland’s online safety commissioner, Niamh Hodnett, has been appointed to chair the Global Online Safety Regulators Network (GOSRN).

Ms Hodnett was appointed as GOSRN’s annual in-person meeting, which took place at Coimisiún na Meán’s offices in Dublin yesterday.

Members of GOSRN include Ireland’s Coimisiún na Meán, the UK regulator Ofcom, the Australian eSafety Commissioner, and regulators from France, Korea, Slovakia, South Africa, Fiji and the Netherlands.

The network was established in 2022 to foster collaboration and coherence in online safety regulation across different jurisdictions.

Commenting on her appointment as chair, Ms Hodnett said: “Coimisiún na Meán are delighted to take up the position of chair of the Global Online Safety Regulators Network, which sends a strong message about our shared commitment to online safety regulation.

“As chair, I will prioritise working together with regulators across the globe to make sure that online safety is not limited to national borders. We will also continue to listen to the voices of young people through consultation with our global youth ambassadors.

‘’As a network, we are developing an evidence base for online safety and growing our collective knowledge. This cross-border cooperation strengthens our ability to hold online platforms accountable for how they keep their users safe online.

“As the network continues to grow, we will also collaborate closely with our observer members across the world, including the US, Asia and the global South.

“For Coimisiún na Meán, our participation in GOSRN underlines our commitment to ensuring a safer online experience for users of online platforms, especially children.”

Ms Hodnett, a solicitor, was appointed as Ireland’s first online safety commissioner in 2023.

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