Latest: No plans to link social media to Public Services Card, says Taoiseach
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says the government has no plans to link social media accounts to the Public Services Card.
Junior Minister Jim Daly had floated the idea in a bid to confirm online identities.
He also suggested having to use your PPS number to sign in to the likes of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Mr Varadkar dismissed the suggestion, however.
"To link the Public Services Card to internet usage, which I agree would be a restriction on privacy and on people's freedom... I've no doubt that Minister Daly's thoughts and proposals are well-intentioned, but it's certainly not something the Government is proposing to do."
Cork Fine Gael TD Jim Daly has called for social media companies to demand PPS numbers from users to ensure they are not underage.
It is after a Dublin man was found guilty of using apps like Instagram and Snapchat to coerce young girls into sending him pornographic images.
But CEO of Cyber Safe Ireland, Alex Cooney, does not think we should hand over more personal details.
She said: "It is your personal data and I think we need to think about how much data we are giving away, we give an awful lot away without thinking about it.
"We also have to think is this going to be the thing that solves the problem, no, I think what we need to be doing is educating children."
