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After an ex-Israeli spy visited the Irish media regulator and met with Jennifer Carroll MacNeill – discussing a role at the regulator – Coimisiún na Meán has appointed the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland to flag “illegal antisemitic material” online.
Coimisiún na Meán has awarded the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland (JRCI) “trusted flagger” status under the Digital Services Act – meaning online platforms are now required to prioritise notices from the JCRI and decide on them “without undue delay.”
JRCI chair Maurice Cohen has previously accused Ireland of “unfairly isolating Israel” with its intervention at the International Court of Justice and has criticised both the recognition of the state of Palestine and the Occupied Territories Bill.
‘Other matters MacNeill and Goldberger discussed were redacted’
Jewish Representative Council of Ireland Maurice Cohen in May 2024 arranged a meeting at the taoiseach’s office between then-junior minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and ex-Israeli intelligence officer Inbal Goldberger.
The JRCI’s pursuit of trusted flagger status was discussed at the meeting.
Cohen also told officials that through Coimisiún na Meán Ireland would be “responsible for policing, throughout Europe, all the major digital media companies that are headquartered” here.
Records show Goldberger and Carroll MacNeill also discussed the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism – which Ireland later endorsed.
Other matters MacNeill and Goldberger discussed were redacted when released to The Ditch under freedom of information legislation with the Department of the Taoiseach claiming their release would damage Ireland’s international relations.
In October 2024 Goldberger attended an event at Coimisiún na Meán’s office where the regulator briefed “dozens” of prospective trusted flaggers on the application process.
When The Ditch later sought records of any contact between the regulator and Goldberger, Coimisiún na Meán refused to even confirm whether they exist – despite sources close to the regulator indicating that the records would be released.
Goldberger spent close to a decade in the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office and in an IDF intelligence unit that has faced allegations of human rights abuses. Former members of this unit say the intelligence it gathers is used to persecute Palestinians.
The Ditch’s reporting on Goldberger has faced repeated removal on social media.
Instagram took down a post about her meeting with Carroll MacNeill on 14 February, 2025, citing “bullying and harassment” and removed The Ditch’s March 28 follow-up article on 4 April, citing the same justification.
Digital Services Commissioner John Evans said granting the JRCI trusted flagger status would “maximise the impact” of the regulator’s framework “in order to minimise online harms to the public.”
JRCI is one of three organisations awarded the status alongside the Irish Internet Hotline – which will flag child sexual abuse material, non-consensual intimate image sharing and financial fraud – and the Irish Music Rights Organisation, which will focus on copyright infringement.
Coimisiún na Meán and the JCRI have been contacted for comment.
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