Broadcaster Gráinne Seoige has told the Oireachtas Media Committee that the creation and sharing of AI deepfakes could be the abuse scandal of the 21st century unless new laws are introduced.
Ms Seoige has been addressing the committee about her own personal experience which involved fake sexual images of her of being shared on WhatsApp groups during the 2024 General Election campaign.
"Ireland has faced many abuse scandals where systemic failure by authorities was later acknowledged," Ms Seoige said.
"This will be the abuse scandal of the 21st century if we do not act now: legislate urgently, be prepared to legislate again as this technology evolves, and ensure that all relevant regulators are empowered and ready to act," she added.
She told committee members that she has received messages from parents of teenagers and women who have had the same experience as she did.
They also repeatedly hit dead ends and "were told by An Garda Síochána that they did not have sufficient powers to identify perpetrators or to compel others to identify perpetrators - which was also the situation in my case," Ms Seoige said.
"I speak to you today not to look for a future election platform, nor to rewrite any previous election result, but as a victim - a victim who is angry about what happened to me, and about the impact it had on those closest to me. I am a victim who wants action, not soundbites," she added.
Ms Seoige said that in recent weeks we have seen "the worst manifestation" of AI with the rollout of the Grok app on the X platform, which allowed users to create and share sexualised images of women and children.
Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney asked Ms Seoige if she was disappointed by the lack of action against Grok and X, and she replied yes.
Fianna Fáil TD Peter 'Chap' Cleere said what happened to Ms Seoige is a "father's worst nightmare", adding that it fills him with absolute rage.
Sinn Féin TD Joanna Byrne asked Ms Seoige where she believes there are legislative gaps in this area.
She replied that the current regulations move too slowly and that there should be faster, reliable take-down routes for people who want images removed from platforms.
"The thing goes on and on," Ms Seoige said.
"You're afraid to go into a shop."
"I shopped for months after the election with a surgical mask."
"You are so afraid to be seen in public that you disguise yourself and make yourself small because of what is happening."
"The legislation needs to move fast, regulators need to move fast, this needs to be stopped and people need to be prosecuted," she added.
Minister 'dissappointed' over lack of Grok announcement
There had been an expectation that the European Commission may have announced an investigation into Grok this week.
Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan said today that he is disappointed that the EU has not yet made an announcement on the issue.
"I am expecting an announcement imminently from the European Commission with regard to this," Mr O'Donovan said.
"I am disappointed it hasn't come already because they are the regulator, but I expect it to come within the next couple of days," he added.
Asked why it has not yet opened an investigation, a European Commission spokesperson said that X is listening and acting, and that the Commission is currently analysing the changes the company has put on the table.
"We are very glad to see that we have come to an alignment on this very important issue," the spokesperson said.
"Once our assessment is done, we may consider potential next steps," he added.
