AI sexualised images must be criminalised immediately says Clare TD Donna

ONLINE SEXUALISED images are inflicting real harm and will leave long-term psychological impact, a Clare TD has warned.

Speaking in the Dáil on Sinn Féin’s private members bill to criminalise the creation and distribution of sexualised images, Donna McGettigan TD (SF) stressed, “Speedy action on this is required now; not next year, not after another review, but now”.

In an eleven day window, she claimed that Grok “is estimated to have generated approximately three million sexualised images, including 23,000 that appear to depict children. Let us be absolutely clear on this, these are children”. Deputy McGettigan questioned why the Government did not act immediately on the matter.

She quoted Children’s Health Ireland which said the tools “pose significant risks to children and young people, including psychological distress, loss of dignity, coercion and long-term trauma. This is real, live harm being inflicted right now. This erosion of basic societal norms cannot be tolerated. It strikes at the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of women, men and children and it needs to be sorted now”.

Shannon based McGettigan outlined, “Violence against women remains pervasive in Ireland and the digital space now plays a central role in enabling and amplifying that violence. AI has become a new weapon of abuse, humiliation and control. Perpetrators of digital domestic abuse, sexual violence and gender-based violence must not be allowed to evade accountability or to hide behind a veil of anonymity because of weak or inadequate rules imposed on platforms and digital service providers”.

“Every day that the Government delays, these images remain available. Every hour of inaction compounds that harm and every failure to legislate sends a dangerous message that protection does not matter. The generation of non-consensual intimate images and videos through AI must be criminalised,” Donna added.

Minister of State responsibility for Trade Promotion, AI and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth (FF) speaking following the initial Grok controversy stated, “Under existing regulation, Coimisiún na Meán leads on online safety and platform duties as Ireland’s Digital Services Coordinator; An Garda Síochána investigates criminal offences; the Data Protection Commission oversees compliance with GDPR and privacy law; and the European Commission enforces the Digital Services Act in cooperation with Coimisiún na Meán. I will continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders.

“If anyone is concerned about images shared online, they should report it to An Garda Síochána. Reports can also be made to the Irish national reporting centre, Hotline.ie. I would also encourage users to report illegal content to the online platform there they encountered it and to Coimisiún na Meán”.