Taoiseach Micheál Martin has described reports of the Grok artificial intelligence tool being used to create sexually explicit images of women and children on social media site X as “unacceptable” and “shocking”.
The media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, has said that it is engaging with the European Commission over concerns that Elon Musk’s AI tool Grok is being used to create sexually explicit images of women and children on X.
The xAI chatbot has been responding to user prompts on the social network asking it to remove the clothing from images of women, including minors, to further post them on X.
“It’s a matter we’ll be continuing to raise with Coimisiún na Meán and the (European) Commission,” Mr Martin said from Beijing, where he is holding trade talks with the Chinese Prime Minister.
“Some of this could be in breach of existing laws in any event, so our authorities need to examine this very carefully and be very clear in protecting children in particular and protecting innocent people,” he added.
Rape Crisis Ireland (RCI) has called for a total ban on AI-based functions that can produce sexual images of children and adults.
It has called on the Government to make it illegal to possess, create or distribute AI tools that can generate deepfake ‘nudification’ images.
“We would like to remind the Irish public that the sharing online of non-consensual sexual images, including deepfakes, is a crime under Irish law,” said RCI’s Executive Director Dr Clíona Saidléar.
“Anyone generating and sharing a non-consensual image is committing a crime.
“Anyone who has been affected by online deepfake abuse can report it to the gardaí or hotline.ie and can reach out to receive support from their local rape crisis centre,” Dr Saidléar said.
X said it takes action against illegal content on its platform, including Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), by removing it, permanently suspending accounts, and working with local governments and law enforcement as necessary.
“Anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content,” the company said in a post on X.