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Ireland’s media regulator said some services may be withdrawn following reports that social media site X is using artificial intelligence to create fake sexy images.
Coimisiun na Mean said the company was taking the issue very seriously and was engaging with the EU after X users appeared to prompt Grok, an AI chatbot developed by tech billionaire Elon Musk’s xAI, to generate images of people undressing.
A post on the Grok
John Evans, digital services specialist at Coimisiun na Mean said irish Regulators are concerned about the potential risks of non-consensual sharing of images.
He said it was illegal to possess and share child sexual abuse material (CSAM), even if it was generated by artificial intelligence.
“This is extremely urgent,” he told RTE radio, adding that the Irish regulator and European Commission Always in touch and also with west hana guard (Irish Police).
He said the EU had sent an information request to X “to understand the service and the risks it poses”.
“The European Commission has a very central role here when it comes to what we call service risk identification and risk management,” he said.
“So if there is a risk to their services, for example, in this case child sexual abuse material or non-consensual sharing of images proliferating online, then they should mitigate that risk.
“If they do not do this adequately then they could be in breach of the Digital Services Act which could result in significant fines.”
He encouraged anyone who saw a photo of themselves online and wished it removed to contact hotline.ie, Gardai and Coimisiun na Mean.
“Sharing images without consent is illegal and CSAM is illegal,” he said.
“When (social media) platforms become aware of content on their services, what they should do is remove that content. They learn about it through consumer reports.”
Asked whether X would be shut down over the issue, he added: “They may end up withdrawing some of their services.
“The most recent example I can think of is Tik Tok Going into the launch of TikTok lite, some of the service’s features raised concerns with the European Commission, and the product’s rollout was ultimately delayed while some changes were made and then relaunched.
“I don’t know what the outcome will be in Grok’s situation, but it’s very serious.”
Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin said such use of artificial intelligence was “unacceptable” and potentially illegal.
“Our authorities need to examine this issue very carefully and clearly protect children, especially innocent people,” he said during a diplomatic visit to China.
Rape Crisis Ireland (RCI) is calling for a total ban on AI-based features that can generate deepfake sexual images.
Dr Cliona Saidear, RCI executive director, said: “AI and the companies behind these AIs become complicit in these crimes if they do not have the appropriate controls and AI governance frameworks in place to prevent the non-consensual sexualization and abuse of women and children.
“These ‘nude’ features of AI, as well as other ‘nude’ applications, appear to serve no legitimate purpose other than to allow predators to abuse women and children online.”
social democratic party Oireachtas AI committee member TD Sinead Gibney called on Coimisiun na Mean to live up to its duty to protect citizens, especially children, by taking action against X domestically.
Since launching its ability to digitally strip real people, Grok AI has become a tool for creating sexually abusive images, but Elon Musk’s Platform X still hasn’t been approved.
“Domestically, Coimisiun na Mean is responsible for ensuring social media platforms comply with its Online Safety Framework, which deems it unlawful to share intimate images without consent and generate child sexual abuse material.
“This institution cannot be deceived by European powers – it must take action at home when our laws are breached.
“Comisiun na Mean must now discharge its duties by taking domestic action against X.”
Due to the large number of tech multinationals headquartered in Dublin, Coimisiun na Mean acts as the de facto regulator of social media across the EU.