John Evans

Digital Services Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán

Speaker

John Evans has over 20 years’ experience working in the area of competition, regulation and consumer protection.

John joined Coimisiún na Meán in July 2023 as the Digital Services Commissioner. The Government decided that An Coimisiún will be designated as Ireland’s Digital Services Coordinator, implementing and enforcing the EU Regulation known as the Digital Services Act in Ireland. As Digital Services Commissioner, John has responsibility, among other things, for:

• Leading, in close co-operation with the Online Safety Commissioner, on the enforcement and implementation of the Digital Services Coordinator’s functions within Coimisiún na Meán
• Developing the procedures necessary to implement the Digital Services Act, such as the certification procedures for awarding trusted flagger status and vetting researchers regarding access to data
• Representing the Irish Digital Services Coordinator as member of the European Board of Digital Services
• Developing effective relationships with Digital Services Coordinators in other Member States
• Ensuring close cooperation with the European Commission in the enforcement and implementation of the regulation of the Digital Services Act for very large online platforms and search engines

Prior to joining An Coimisiún, John was the Director of Strategy and Economics at ComReg, the Irish communications regulator, which he joined in 2015. At ComReg John’s responsibilities included strategic planning, research & economics, international work and emerging issues related to the digital economy.

John also has extensive experience of enforcement. Prior to joining ComReg, John worked in various roles at the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (and previously the Irish Competition Authority), latterly as the Director of Civil Competition Law Enforcement where he worked on a number of high-profile complex investigations.

John holds a PhD in Economics from UCD, Ireland.