What Coimisiún na Meán does

Coimisiún na Meán is Ireland's national independent media regulator, established in March 2023 under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 and headquartered at 1 Shelbourne Buildings, Dublin 4. It consolidates three core regulatory functions: implementing the Online Safety Framework under the EU Digital Services Act and Online Safety Code; regulating broadcasters and video-on-demand providers under the Broadcasting Act 2009; and administering media development and funding schemes including Sound & Vision, journalism schemes (News Recovery Scheme, Local Democracy Reporting Scheme, Community Radio Scheme), the Digital Transformation Scheme, the Shared Island Media Fund, archiving, and media literacy funding. Its core products include a Digital Services Act Complaints Process, a Trusted Flagger designation system, certified Out-of-Court Dispute Settlement Bodies, the Online Safety Code, oversight of Terrorist Content Online Regulation compliance, and the annual Digital News Report Ireland.

The organization's underlying operational platform combines a website self-service portal (cnam.ie) for complaint submission, licensing, and funding applications, with a contact centre operated by Fexco as the first point of contact, supported by written correspondence channels. It maintains a regulatory technology posture for digital services compliance monitoring, complaint handling, and licensing administration, and operates partnerships including the Media Literacy Ireland network (over 350 member organisations), BAFTA albert for sustainability certification in the Irish film and TV sector, Sustainable Media Ireland, and cross-agency cooperation agreements with the Data Protection Commission and Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

As a statutory body, Coimisiún na Meán is funded through Irish government appropriations and industry supervision levies rather than commercial pricing; it does not charge citizens for services. Levies are imposed on regulated entities (for example, a €12.9 million supervision levy on Meta Platforms Ireland and WhatsApp Ireland in 2024/2025, currently under High Court challenge). Its customer base is split between Irish citizens requiring protection from harmful online content (especially children and young people) and regulated industry entities — broadcasters, video-on-demand providers, and online platforms established in Ireland — that must comply with DSA, broadcasting, and accessibility rules.

Name

Coimisiún na Meán

Legal name

Coimisiún na Meán

Website

https://cnam.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Coimisiún na Meán is Ireland's national independent media regulator, established in March 2023, responsible for enforcing the EU Digital Services Act and Broadcasting Act, administering media funding schemes, and protecting citizens — especially children — from harmful online content.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Regulation

NAICS

Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities (92613), Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities (926130), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Communications, Media & Spectrum Regulators (BPAIAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rights & Licensing Management (Contract, Territory/Window, Royalty) (MPAHALAA), Rights Management, Content ID & Anti-Piracy Platforms (MPACABAK)

Keywords

• Media regulation
• Online safety enforcement
• Broadcasting licensing
• Digital compliance
• Media funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Supervision Levies: Coimisiún na Meán imposes statutory levies on regulated entities including Meta and WhatsApp for supervision costs. Meta and WhatsApp challenged a €12.9 million State levy imposed by the media watchdog.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Coimisiún na Meán is Ireland's statutory media regulator operating under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022. It regulates online platforms under the EU Digital Services Act, oversees broadcasters and video-on-demand providers under the Broadcasting Act 2009, administers the Online Safety Code, handles complaints, designates Trusted Flaggers, certifies Out-of-Court Dispute Settlement Bodies, and distributes media sector funding schemes (Sound & Vision, journalism, digital transformation, archiving, and media literacy).

Product overview

Coimisiún na Meán is Ireland's national independent media regulator established in March 2023 under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022. The organization operates as a unified regulatory body with three interconnected functions: (1) Online Safety Framework regulation implementing the EU Digital Services Act and Online Safety Code; (2) Broadcasting & Video-on-Demand regulation under the Broadcasting Act 2009; and (3) Media Development support through funding schemes. The core regulatory products include the Digital Services Act Complaints Process, Trusted Flagger System, Out-of-Court Dispute Settlement Bodies, and Online Safety Code enforcement. Media Development offerings encompass funding schemes (Sound & Vision, Journalism schemes, Digital Transformation, Shared Island Media Fund, Archiving, Media Literacy), supported by partnerships with BAFTA albert for sustainability certification and Media Literacy Ireland network coordination. The organization also publishes the annual Digital News Report Ireland and conducts public consultations on regulatory policies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Safety Framework Statutory framework implementing the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 and supervising online platforms' compliance with their obligations under the EU Digital Services Act.
• Broadcasting & Video-on-Demand Regulation Regulation of TV/radio broadcasters and video-on-demand providers under the Broadcasting Act 2009, covering licensing, standards enforcement, and accessibility requirements.
• Digital Services Act Complaints Process Process for handling complaints about potential infringements of the EU Digital Services Act by platforms established in Ireland, including validity assessment, jurisdictional assessment, and enforcement actions.
• Trusted Flagger Designation Formal designation system under the EU Digital Services Act that empowers qualified organisations to report illegal online content to platforms, with such notices being prioritised for processing without delay.
• Online Safety Code Regulatory code establishing safety duties and measures for designated online services to protect users from illegal and harmful content in Ireland.
• Out-of-Court Dispute Settlement Body Certification Certification of independent bodies that provide out-of-court dispute resolution for users who wish to challenge platform decisions regarding illegal content decisions under the Digital Services Act.
• Sound & Vision Scheme Funding scheme for television and radio content that promotes Irish culture, heritage, and language, administered to media producers through application rounds.
• Journalism Funding Schemes Funding programs including the News Recovery Scheme, Local Democracy Reporting Scheme, and Community Radio Scheme to support journalism and local news provision in Ireland.
• Digital Transformation Scheme Funding scheme to support Irish media organisations in undertaking digital transformation initiatives.
• Shared Island Media Fund Funding scheme supporting media projects that promote cooperation and shared understanding across the island of Ireland.
• Media Literacy Ireland Network Independent network coordinated by the regulator that brings together over 350 organisations to promote media literacy skills among the Irish public.
• Vetted Researcher Data Access Scheme providing vetted researchers access to platform data for research into systemic risks under the Digital Services Act.
• Broadcast Licensing & Registration Licensing services for TV and radio broadcasters, including temporary licences and licensing plans administered under the Broadcasting Act 2009.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Irish Internet Hotline (IIH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Coimisiún na Meán designated the Irish Internet Hotline as a Trusted Flagger under the EU Digital Services Act, recognizing its expertise in identifying and reporting illegal online content such as intimate image abuse, financial scams, racism, and child sexual abuse material.
• Social Media Platforms (Age Verification Pilot)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025Ireland is planning a voluntary pilot of an age-verification tool integrated into a digital wallet, with the support of social media platforms, as part of online safety measures similar to France's requirements.
• Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2025The Department of Health supported Coimisiún na Meán's nationwide campaign to raise awareness about harmful online content, particularly targeting protection of children and young people.
• Data Protection Commission (DPC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2025Coimisiún na Meán and DPC announced collaboration to improve children's safety online. The cooperation agreement relates to online safety measures involving cookies and data privacy.
• Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2024Co-operation Agreement between CCPC and Coimisiún na Meán for handling complaints under the Digital Services Act, specifically Articles 30, 31, and 32.
• BAFTA albertcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoimisiún na Meán manages the international partnership for BAFTA albert in Ireland. Albert is one of the leading international screen industry organisations for environmental sustainability. Together they support the Irish film and television industry to reduce the environmental impacts of production.
• Media Literacy IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn independent network created by Coimisiún na Meán that has brought together over 350 organizations to promote media literacy in Ireland. The network delivered the 'Be Media Smart' campaign in 2019.
• Sustainable Media IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoimisiún na Meán is a member of Sustainable Media Ireland, a group which brings the Irish media sector together to learn, share knowledge and partner on sustainability initiatives. The regulator provides ongoing secretariat support to the network.
• FexcominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContact centre provider engaged by Coimisiún na Meán as first point of contact for complaints handling. All complaints and queries are logged in the first instance by Fexco and directed to relevant teams.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ofcom: UK's converged media and telecommunications regulator. Direct peer because Ofcom enforces the UK Online Safety regime and regulates broadcast/VOD services — a near-mirror of Coimisiún na Meán's mandate under the DSA and Broadcasting Act 2009.
• Arcom (Autorité de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique): France's audiovisual and digital regulator. Direct peer because Arcom enforces French broadcasting rules and online safety obligations (including age-verification requirements) that closely parallel Coimisiún na Meán's DSA and broadcasting responsibilities.
• AGCOM (Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni): Italy's converged communications and media regulator. Direct peer because AGCOM enforces EU digital services rules in Italy and oversees broadcasting, mirroring Coimisiún na Meán's combined online-safety/broadcast mandate.
• CNMC (Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia): Spain's national markets and competition regulator with audiovisual oversight. Direct peer because CNMC performs DSA coordination and supervises audiovisual content markets, comparable to Coimisiún na Meán's dual DSA-broadcasting role.

Broad incumbents

• Bundesnetzagentur: Germany's federal energy, telecommunications, postal and railway regulator with growing digital coordination duties. Broad incumbent peer — wider sectoral remit than Coimisiún na Meán but comparable role enforcing EU digital and platform rules.
• FCC (Federal Communications Commission): US federal regulator of communications and broadcast. Broad incumbent peer — overlapping broadcast oversight, but operating under a different legislative framework; useful comparability benchmark for enforcement scale and structure.
• ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority): Australia's converged communications and media regulator. Broad incumbent peer — covers broadcasting, online content and spectrum, comparable to Coimisiún na Meán's broad mandate though with additional telecommunications scope.

Regional players

• PTS (Post- och telestyrelsen): Sweden's national Post and Telecom Authority with media oversight. Regional peer — handles DSA coordination in Sweden and supervises broadcasting, but in a different national market.
• Nkom (Norwegian Communications Authority): Norway's electronic communications regulator with media responsibilities. Regional peer — performs comparable regulatory functions in the Norwegian market rather than competing directly with Coimisiún na Meán.
• Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT/IBPT): Belgium's federal regulator for postal services, telecommunications and digital platforms. Regional peer — performs DSA coordination and broadcasting oversight in Belgium, providing a structural comparison with Coimisiún na Meán's role in Ireland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CNaM_ie
• Facebookfacebook.com/CNaM.Ireland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coimisi%C3%BAn-na-me%C3%A1n/about
• Instagraminstagram.com/cnam.ie

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coimisiún na Meán