A new online safety watchdog will have the power to close down access to social media sites and issue fines, the Government will pledge today.

The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill provides that online tech companies and social media firms that don’t comply with instructions from a new regulatory body will face “the blocking of access to the designated online service in Ireland”.

The new body, which is also being tasked with replacing the functions of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, is being set up to deal with cases of “harmful content” that, in particular, can damage children.

This includes self-harm promotion content, child abuse material, “threatening” content and extreme cyberbullying.

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The Government’s draft bill says that it will not apply to issues of defamation or copyright violations.

It will come into force for social media sites, gaming services, public boards and internet service providers.

The draft legislation also says it will apply to “private communication services” and “private online cloud storage services”, raising the spectre of a clash between the State body and providers such as WhatsApp that encrypt online messages.

At present, harmful images and content can often not be stopped by authorities or by tech companies where the messaging systems are encrypted.

In the case of services such as WhatsApp, this has led to difficulties in policing content such as gruesome motorway accidents, personal threats or extreme bullying.

However, encryption rights are seen as a cornerstone of personal privacy.

“It is provided that the Media Commission’s code making powers in relation to these services be explicitly limited to matters relating to content which it is a criminal offence to disseminate,” according to the draft rules.

“The reason for this is that these services raise particular rights balancing issues, especially regarding the right to privacy, which make it difficult to justify giving the Commission to power to require them to take measures in relation to non-criminal harmful online content.”

The tough new powers are aimed at persuading concerned parents that the Government is taking action on the issue of online content that is harmful to children.

However, politicians are playing down the likelihood of any tough sanctions.

Communications Minister Richard Bruton earlier compared the Irish approach to legislation in Australia, where few formal actions have been taken.

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