Social media users are very concerned that the Irish government is going to ban X in Ireland.
Senior gardaí have said the recent use of the Grok AI app to depict both children and adults in an undressed state represents “an abhorrent disregard of personal dignity and an abuse of societal trust” and is behaviour that cannot be accepted.
The Arts and Media Oireachtas committee is holding a hearing on the regulation of online platforms and online safety, with particular attention on the recent controversy involving the Grok tool on the X platform, which allows users to digitally remove clothing from images, including those of children, reports RTE.
Detective Chief Superintendent Barry Walsh of the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau is among those appearing before the committee.
In a written submission prepared for members, he said reports of abuse imagery generated by AI are being treated with the “utmost seriousness” and that “where appropriate, these crimes will be the subject of thorough investigation, with a view to bringing those responsible or any person conspiring to commit or facilitate such offending before the courts, where that is warranted based on available evidence”, reports RTE.
“While recent commentary has focused on one AI model in particular, the reality is that, as a conceptual possibility, other AI models could be trained to create such content,” the Detective Chief Superintendent said.
“I sincerely hope that the robust response to recent events from across society will instigate a concerted trend by all AI service providers to ensure that their models cannot be manipulated to create content that is both unlawful and hugely harmful to those individuals who are impacted,” reports RTE.
Minister of State with responsibility for Artificial Intelligence Niamh Smyth is due to meet the Taoiseach and the Attorney General today to discuss the Grok tool.
She has said Grok should be banned in Ireland if X does not comply with Irish law governing the creation of sexualised images of both children and adults, reports RTE.
Speaking on RTÉ’s *Prime Time*, the minister said legislation already exists around the creation and distribution of AI-generated sexual imagery and that proper enforcement is required.
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When asked whether the AI chatbot Grok should be banned, the minister said: “My own view is if X are not going to abide by the laws here in Ireland, yes, it should be banned,” reports RTE.
“I have disabled my account, and I know many of my colleagues in government have also disabled their accounts,” she said, adding, “I have no doubt that the Taoiseach, along with his Cabinet colleagues, will take a collective decision on this in the very near future”, reports RTE.
Ms Smyth said she has written to the Garda Commissioner regarding the AI chatbot Grok and similar applications.
The committee is also expected to hear that gardaí are encountering increasing volumes of child sexual abuse material, along with the unrestricted access to pornography, reports RTE.
“As an over-arching observation, it is difficult to understand why robust age verification is not yet a standard operating procedure in respect of any platform where pornography or other child inappropriate content is either readily accessible or where there is a realistic danger that it could be accessed,” members will be told, reports RTE.
Garda representatives will also outline concerns about the spread of disinformation targeting immigrants.
“These are the realities that must be faced from the service provision, regulatory and legislative perspectives, in terms of determining what the appropriate next steps are,” committee members will hear, reports RTE.
They will also be informed of positive measures taken to tackle online criminal activity, including significant investment in the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau.
Alongside representatives from An Garda Síochána, the committee will hear from Media Literacy Ireland, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and the Hope and Courage Collective, reports RTE.
In her opening statement, Hope and Courage Collective Executive Director Edel McGinley will say that algorithms are driving hate and causing real-world harm in Ireland.
“Algorithms are not neutral,” Ms McGinley is expected to tell members, reports RTE.
“They are designed to maximise engagement, so they actively push hateful and inflammatory content at scale,” reports RTE.
Speaking ahead of the hearing, committee Cathaoirleach Alan Kelly said members are particularly concerned about the changing nature of online harms.
“This is a timely opportunity to discuss this issue amid reports of the AI tool Grok being used to produce non-consensual sexualised images,” Mr Kelly said, reports RTE.
“The committee will also consider how regulation, enforcement, platform accountability and media literacy measures must work together to create safer online environments.”
“The committee has also invited Meta, TikTok, Google and X to a hearing on 4 February to discuss these issues,” he added, reports RTE.
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