Minister with Responsibility for Artificial Intelligence, Niamh Smyth, said concerns remain over the Grok AI tool on the X social media platform after meeting the company’s executives on Thursday. She welcomed what she described as “corrective actions” taken by X, including the disabling of Grok’s ability to remove or reduce clothing on individuals worldwide.
X confirmed yesterday that it will geoblock users in jurisdictions where generating images of people in “bikinis, underwear, and similar attire” is illegal. The move comes after widespread criticism over features that allowed users to digitally undress images of real people, including non-consensual intimate imagery and material involving children.
“I emphasised that the sophistication of safeguards must match the sophistication of the technology,” Ms Smyth said after the meeting. She added that the government will continue to monitor Grok as a standalone app and is planning a follow-up in-person meeting with X to ensure lasting protections are in place.
Labour TD Alan Kelly confirmed that X has been invited to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Media on 4 February. The visit comes amid rising concerns about the platform’s handling of sensitive material, particularly content related to children.
Speaking on RTÉ, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar acknowledged the government’s ongoing scrutiny of platforms like X. “Generating child sexual abuse material is shocking,” he said. “In my view, there has to be absolute enforcement of the law, and X should be pursued in respect of that.” He emphasized that existing laws apply not only to individuals but also to platforms hosting illegal material.
Minister for Communications and Media, Patrick O’Donovan, rejected claims that the government was taking a soft approach to policing AI-generated sexualized images. “That is rubbish, to be quite honest,” he said. “I don’t think anyone sitting around the Cabinet table would want to have any suggestion that a lax attitude is being taken towards the abuse of children.” He confirmed that media regulator Coimisiún na Meán is coordinating with the European Commission on the response.
Labour TD Marie Sherlock has called for a ban on the download of Grok from mobile app stores, describing X as a “despicable place.” She argued that existing EU AI legislation is weak and that geo-blocking measures could be circumvented. “The government needs to move now to actually block the use of Grok in this country,” she said.
Minister Smyth also met with the Attorney General to ensure there were no legal loopholes allowing AI tools to undress images of real people. “The purpose of my meeting with the AG was to give myself and the Government absolute confidence that the laws we have in place protect our citizens in every way possible,” she said.
The developments highlight growing government scrutiny over AI tools and the responsibilities of social media platforms to prevent non-consensual content, particularly involving minors.
