Ireland's media watchdog has issued a stark warning to the social media platform X, stating that reports of its AI tool being used to create fake sexualised images could lead to parts of the service being withdrawn.
Regulator Takes 'Very Serious' Stance on AI Abuse
Coimisiun na Mean, Ireland's media regulator, confirmed it is treating the issue with extreme urgency. The concern stems from users reportedly prompting Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk's xAI, to generate undressed images of individuals. The regulator is now actively engaging with EU authorities on the matter.
John Evans, the Digital Services Commissioner with Coimisiun na Mean, emphasised the gravity of the situation in an interview with RTE Radio. He stated that the creation and sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is illegal, regardless of whether it is generated by artificial intelligence.
"It's very urgent," Evans said, noting constant contact between the Irish regulator, the European Commission, and An Garda Siochana, the Irish police force.
Potential Consequences Under EU Law
The European Commission has already sent formal information requests to X to assess the risks presented by its service. Evans highlighted the platform's obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
"If their service presents a risk, for example, in this case, the proliferation online of child sexual abuse material or non-consensual image sharing, then they're supposed to mitigate that risk," he explained. Failure to do so adequately could result in "very large fines."
When questioned about the potential for X to be shut down, Evans suggested a partial withdrawal of services was a possible outcome. He drew a parallel with TikTok, which previously had to pull back the launch of its TikTok Lite product in the EU due to regulatory concerns.
"I don't know what the outcome of this situation with Grok is going to be, but it's very serious," Evans concluded.
Political and Advocacy Calls for Action
The controversy has drawn strong reactions from Irish political figures and support groups. Irish premier Micheal Martin, speaking from China, labelled the misuse of AI for such purposes "unacceptable" and potentially illegal, stressing the need to protect children and innocent people.
Rape Crisis Ireland (RCI) has gone further, demanding a total ban on AI functions capable of producing deepfake sexual imagery. Dr Cliona Saidlear, RCI's executive director, argued that AI corporations are "complicit in these crimes" if they lack proper controls to prevent the non-consensual sexualisation of women and children.
Adding political pressure, Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney, a member of the Oireachtas AI Committee, called on Coimisiun na Mean to take immediate domestic action against X. She insisted the regulator must not be "fobbed off by European powers" and must enforce Ireland's Online Safety Framework, which prohibits the sharing of non-consensual intimate images.
As the de facto EU regulator for many major tech firms due to their Irish headquarters, Coimisiun na Mean's actions in this case are being closely watched across the continent.
