TikTok admits it cannot say how many times dangerous driving videos were watched after M9 crash

From the Newshound archive · first published 23 September 2026.

TikTok disclosed to an Irish parliamentary committee that it had taken down 1,600 dangerous driving videos in the wake of the M9 motorway crash, but could not provide figures on how many times those videos had been watched before they were removed. Representatives from TikTok, Meta and Google were questioned by the Media Committee about content that promotes criminal activity, including car theft and joyriding. One committee member cautioned 'we have a serious problem here' as the session laid bare the extent of harmful material circulating across the platforms.

TikTok had planned to insist it is 'only one part of a wider picture' ahead of facing TDs' questions over car-theft videos glorifying joyriding.

The hearing follows increased scrutiny of social media platforms after multiple high-profile crashes linked to dangerous driving content.

TikTok's failure to quantify views on the videos it removed will prompt questions about whether 1,600 takedowns made any meaningful dent in the problem.