Government to decide collectively on X as AI abuse image concerns escalate
Enterprise Minister Peter Burke has called for a collective government decision on the State's continued use of X, following reports that the platform's AI bot, Grok, has been used to generate non-consensual sexualised images of women and children. He said he is "hugely concerned" and stressed the need for vigilance by parents and accountability by platforms.
Burke noted that current European and Irish laws apply and must be enforced as designed, while ongoing investigations by Coimisiún na Meán and EU counterparts proceed. He argued it is not yet the time to haul in senior X executives, adding that companies operating in Ireland must adhere to the law and that suspected criminality should be reported to An Garda Síochána.
Platform response and public exits
Women's Aid will end its presence on X, citing the creation and sharing of deepfake sexual imagery and what it described as unchecked hate and abuse. Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon also said he will leave the platform under its current ownership, calling for scrutiny of public bodies that remain.
The Taoiseach has called such AI use "unacceptable" and possibly illegal, while his account has continued to post official updates. Minister of State for AI Niamh Smyth did not attend a scheduled event, as regulators coordinate with European authorities on the issue.
Legal and regulatory focus
Burke emphasised that European and domestic law apply to AI-enabled abuses, and that investigations must run their course. Coimisiún na Meán is engaging with the Gardaí and the European Commission on enforcement and platform accountability.
Human rights lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC questioned whether existing frameworks sufficiently address AI-generated child sexual abuse material and non-consensual intimate imagery. She highlighted research showing the harms from deepfake sexual abuse mirror the impact of authentic imagery, and noted the gendered nature of abuse, with a heavy skew toward images of females.
Advice for parents and the public
Burke urged parents to be cautious about sharing children's images online, pointing to everyday examples of how minor details can spread widely and unexpectedly. His core message: think twice before posting, and report suspected abuse immediately.
What this means for government teams
Public bodies should review their risk posture now. The decision on continued use of X will be made collectively, but there are steps departments can take immediately.
- Conduct a rapid risk assessment on official accounts across all platforms, with specific attention to AI-generated abuse risks and impersonation.
- Pause or limit non-essential activity on X pending regulatory findings, especially paid campaigns and user-generated content amplifications.
- Issue updated guidance to staff on image sharing, consent, and reporting procedures for deepfakes and non-consensual imagery.
- Set a single reporting channel to An Garda Síochána for suspected illegality, and log all incidents for audit and regulatory liaison.
- Engage with Coimisiún na Meán compliance updates and ensure suppliers/platforms meet legal obligations.
- Review contracts and SLAs with platforms for response times, detection, and takedown processes for AI-generated abuse.
- Prepare a public communications plan outlining your department's stance, safeguards, and how the public can report harm.
Policy and enforcement priorities
Expect increased scrutiny of platform guardrails, detection tools, and reporting pipelines. Departments should align with the emerging European framework and verify how current Irish law is being applied to AI-generated content.
Coordination across government-legal, communications, child protection, and IT security-will be essential to close gaps quickly while investigations continue.
Next steps to watch
- Findings from Coimisiún na Meán and EU partners on Grok's role and platform compliance.
- Any updates from the Attorney General's review of relevant child protection and online safety laws.
- Government's collective decision on the State's presence on X and any new cross-department guidance.
For reference on the evolving European framework, see the European Commission's materials on AI governance here. Ireland's media regulator provides updates and guidance here.
If your team is updating internal AI policies and training, you can review role-specific course options here.
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