TikTok could not provide specific data on how many times videos showing dangerous driving were viewed on its platform, despite appearing before Ireland’s Oireachtas Media committee. The committee was investigating how major social media platforms respond to content that promotes criminal behavior, especially after several high-profile incidents involving wrong-way driving. One such incident resulted in the deaths of five teenagers when their car was driven the wrong way on the M9 in Co Kildare, colliding with another vehicle and seriously injuring a child and three women from the same family. Representatives from TikTok, Google, and Meta appeared before the committee to explain how they handle content that encourages dangerous or illegal behavior. This includes videos showing car theft, joyriding, speeding, and wrong-way driving, which have been found on various platforms. Google’s Ryan Meade said there were fewer than 10 dangerous driving videos and channels removed from YouTube in July and August. Meta’s Dualta Ó Broin noted that two Irish-originated wrong-way driving videos were removed between December and September, with eight others restricted to users over 18. He also mentioned that 127 viral challenge videos related to wrong-way driving had been taken down. TikTok’s Zachary Hecht, the global head of policy for trust and safety, said that in the first half of the year, there were 42,000 videos showing dangerous activity or challenges, including risky behavior at height and improper tool use. He explained that TikTok actively removes such content, with 99.6% of dangerous videos being taken down before any user reported them, and nearly 90% within 24 hours. However, when asked by Senator Alison Comyn how many times these videos were viewed, Hecht could not provide a figure. Committee chairman Alan Kelly criticized TikTok for not having “quantitative figures” on how often the content was viewed before removal. He also expressed concern that the company’s substantial investment in online safety was not being used effectively. Later, when given another chance to provide the data, TikTok’s Susan Moss, head of public policy in Ireland, said the company did not want to give an “inaccurate” figure. Fianna Fáil TD Peter “Chap” Cleere said he had spoken to many people who felt unsafe using motorways due to incidents of wrong-way driving. Hecht stated that since the M9 crash, TikTok had identified 1,600 instances of content related to risky driving, with less than 2% involving wrong-way driving—less than 32 videos. Cleere questioned whether such content was still available on the platform, to which Hecht said that some content showing wrong-way driving might remain if it is intended to raise awareness of the issue. Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán (CnaM), was also questioned by the committee. Cleere asked CnaM’s Jeremy Godfrey if he was confident that social media companies were doing enough to address dangerous content. Godfrey said the regulator could not declare satisfaction with companies’ efforts, as it must rely on legal processes to assess compliance. Cleere called this lack of confidence “very worrying.” Godfrey noted that CnaM had launched six investigations into potential breaches of online safety rules and was working with the European Commission on four more. However, Sinn Féin’s Joanna Byrne criticized the regulator as “hands-off,” while Godfrey insisted it was “independent and fearless” in enforcing rules.