Cabinet figures have described X’s refusal to attend a communications committee hearing as “concerning”, “disrespectful” and “disappointing”.
Representatives from Meta, TikTok and Google are scheduled to appear before the Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, reports Breaking News.
The meeting on Wednesday will centre on the regulation of online platforms and ways to strengthen online safety standards.
X, previously known as Twitter, will not be present despite calls for it to answer questions about its AI product Grok, which has been accused of producing images involving sexual abuse, including images of children, reports Breaking News.
Speaking to journalists ahead of a cabinet meeting, the Taoiseach said the company’s decision not to attend was “concerning”, reports Breaking News.
Micheál Martin said Coimisiún na Meán is working alongside the European Commission on an investigation into the generation of “illegal material”.
He added that An Garda Síochána are “also examining the situation” and that “the protection of people will be our priority”, reports Breaking News.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said he was “disappointed but not surprised” that X had chosen not to appear before the committee, reports Breaking News.
He said: “They can choose not to turn up to a committee today. That’s unhelpful, it’s disrespectful. What they can’t do, though, is ignore the fact that the European Commission has now opened an investigation into Grok. Social media can no longer operate like the wild west”, reports Breaking News.
Mr Harris said that Irish and European legislation would be “enforced without fear or favour”, reports Breaking News.
James Lawless TD said it was “disappointing they had declined the invitation to appear on front of the committee”, reports Breaking News.
He noted that prior to Elon Musk’s takeover, when the company was still known as Twitter, it was a “regular attender” at communications committee hearings.
Mr Lawless said it is “regrettable that’s fallen away”, reports Breaking News.
He also highlighted that in France and Spain, “measures” had been introduced in the past 48 hours to “go very hard on Grok and, in some cases, instigate prosecutions”.
The minister said gardaí were “gathering up evidence and putting together files”, adding that he “looks forward to the outcome of that”, reports Breaking News.
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