The Irish media regulator won’t say if it’s communicated with a former Israeli intelligence officer looking to influence social media moderation – and who boasted online about attending an event at the regulator’s office.
Coimisiún na Meán has rejected two freedom of information requests from The Ditch seeking records of meetings, correspondence and any mentions of ex-spy Inbal Goldberger.
The regulator has refused to even confirm if such records exist on personal privacy grounds.
Goldberger last year posted on LinkedIn about attending an event at Coimisiún na Meán's offices where "dozens" of potential moderators met with Irish officials. These moderators would potentially be involved in deciding what content is appropriate on social media.
Goldberger worked for almost a decade in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office and in a controversial IDF intelligence unit that has faced allegations of human rights abuses. Former members of this unit have said intelligence it gathers "is used for political persecution and to create divisions within Palestinian society."
The Ditch has previously reported that Goldberger met with then-junior defence minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill at the taoiseach's office last year. The meeting included discussions about online content moderation and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism – which more than 100 human rights organisations oppose due to concerns about its impact on freedom of expression.
Sources close to Coimisiún na Meán had previously indicated to The Ditch that it would release several records related to its interactions with Goldberger – but the regulator is now refusing to even confirm whether such communications exist.
‘Neither confirm nor deny’
In April The Ditch submitted two separate freedom of information requests to Coimisiún na Meán for records of correspondence with Goldberger, specifically targeting staff working on "trusted flagger" applications. These so-called trusted flaggers would have the power to prioritise content removal requests on social media.
In two responses dated 14 May the regulator said it would "neither confirm nor deny" whether any relevant records exist, invoking provisions about the protection of personal information.
"Release of the information in the records would have the effect of disclosing personal information of individuals," the commission wrote, adding that even acknowledging whether such records exist would compromise Goldberger’s privacy.
Goldberger has publicly documented her engagement with the regulator on LinkedIn. Seven months ago she posted about attending an event at the regulator's offices where officials explained the trusted flagger application process.
"A few months ago I wrote an article asking where all the Digital Services Act trusted flaggers are. Today I found them. Dozens of potential flaggers came together in Ireland's online safety regulator Coimisiún na Meán offices to hear from Dana Paraschiv, Dr John E and the team about the process ahead," Goldberger wrote in the post dated October 2024.
The Ditch's reporting on Goldberger has faced repeated content removal on social media. Instagram removed a post about Goldberger's meeting with Carroll MacNeill, citing "bullying and harassment" on 14 February, 2025.
The platform later removed The Ditch's March 28 follow-up article on 4 April, using the same justification – despite the factual nature of both reports.
Coimisiún na Meán has been contacted for comment. Goldberger could not be reached.
