TikTok rejects Oireachtas invite after M9 crash, called 'slap in the face'

Social media giant TikTok has refused an invitation to appear before the Irish Oireachtas media committee, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism. The committee had requested TikTok's presence following a fatal car crash on the M9 motorway that killed five teenagers.

Alan Kelly, the Labour Party TD who chairs the committee, had invited the company to discuss the role of social media in the aftermath of the incident. The crash involved a car traveling the wrong way on the motorway, which collided with another vehicle. Three women and a child in the second vehicle sustained serious injuries.

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TikTok’s decision to decline the committee’s invitation is deeply disappointing and, frankly, unacceptable given the seriousness of the issues we are seeking to examine. It’s a slap in the face to the Irish public.

TikTok, in its response, cited comments made by Kelly as the reason for its refusal. The company stated that statements from Kelly suggested the invitation was specifically to address the August 16th crash, which is currently under investigation by An Garda Síochána and Coimisiún na Meán. TikTok argued that it would be inappropriate to comment publicly while official examinations are ongoing and suggested that Kelly's comments implied the company would be asked to comment on the incident itself.

Kelly, however, dismissed TikTok's explanation as a "red herring" and a "slap in the face to the Irish public." He stated that the committee's aim was to understand the processes in place to protect young users from content that glorifies dangerous or illegal behavior. TikTok's head of public affairs, Susan Moss, indicated the company would be open to a private briefing session at a later date and affirmed TikTok's commitment to removing content that violates its guidelines.

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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 and we have had the opportunity to assess the outcome.