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Ministers, Attorney General to meet over Grok sexual abuse images

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he anticipates action from the European Commission in respect of the situation
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he anticipates action from the European Commission in respect of the situation

The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Attorney General, as well as the ministers for Artificial Intelligence, Justice and Communications will meet to discuss existing laws relating to the generation and sharing of sexual abuse images.

Representatives from media regulator Coimisiún na Meán are also expected to attend the meeting.

The Government has said that concerns remain about features on the Grok AI tool, operated by X, that allow users to digitally remove clothing from images of people, including children.

Speaking on RTÉ's This Week yesterday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said child sexual abuse images are a "no-go area" and there is no future for any app or platform that would engage in such activity.

Mr Martin said he anticipates action from the European Commission in respect of the situation.

"Already the gardaí have indicated about 200 complaints have come in. They are pursuing it in respect of Irish law," he said.

"It's a very serious situation but we do have a fairly significant, layered framework of legal enforcement that's open to us, open to the European Union, to pursue."

On Thursday, X said it had implemented technological measures to prevent Grok from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis.

The company also said it would "geoblock" the ability of users to generate images of real people in bikinis, underwear, and similar attire "in those jurisdictions where it's illegal".

The undressing or "nudification" features still appear to be available to users in Ireland.


Read more:
Why Grok restrictions won't stop society's latest AI scourge
Gardaí investigating 200 reports of Grok-generated images