The recent use of the Grok AI app to present children and adults in an undressed state is "an abhorrent disregard of personal dignity and an abuse of societal trust" that cannot be tolerated, senior gardaí have said.
The Arts and Media Oireachtas committee is holding a hearing on the regulation of online platforms and online safety, with a particular focus on the recent controversy surrounding the Grok tool on the X platform which allows people to digitally remove clothing from images of people, including children.
Detective Chief Superintendent Barry Walsh of the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau is among those appearing before the hearing.
In a written statement prepared for the committee, he stated that reports of abuse imagery being created by AI are being treated with "utmost seriousness" and "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 accommodate such offending before the courts, where that is warranted based on available evidence".
"While recent commentary has focused on one Al model in particular, the reality is that, as a conceptual possibility, other Al 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."
Minister of State with responsibility for Artificial Intelligence Niamh Smyth is to meet the Taoiseach and the Attorney General today to discuss Grok.
She has said that Grok should be banned in Ireland if X fails to abide by Irish law regarding the creation of sexualised images of both children and adults.
Speaking on RTÉ's Prime Time, the minister said laws are in place regarding the creation and dissemination of AI-generated sexual imagery and that enforcement is needed.
Asked if 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," she said.
"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 that Taoiseach, along with his Cabinet colleagues, will take a collective decision on this in the very near future".
Ms Smyth said she has written to the Garda Commissioner about the AI chatbot Grok, and similar apps.
Child inappropriate content
The committee is also expected to hear that gardaí are encountering ever-increasing levels of child sexual abuse material, as well as the unrestricted availability of pornography.
"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.
The garda representatives will also highlight concerns over the spread of disinformation towards 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.
They will also be told of the positive steps that have been taken to address online criminal behaviour, such as significant investment in the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau.
'Algorithms are not neutral'
As well as representatives from An Garda Síochána, the committee will hear from Media Literacy Ireland, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and the Hope and Courage Collective.
In her opening statement, Hope and Courage Collective Executive Director Edel McGinley will say that algorithms are fuelling hate and real world harm in Ireland.
"Algorithms are not neutral," Ms McGinley is expected to tell members.
"They are designed to maximise engagement, so they actively push hateful and inflammatory content at scale."
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Alan Kelly said members are especially concerned by the evolving 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.
"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.
