THE ATTORNEY GENERAL has updated the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and a number of other Cabinet figures on the laws concerning sexual harassment imagery in the wake of controversy over AI tool Grok.

It is understood that Coco’s Law, which banned the sharing of intimate images without a person’s consent, may need to be strengthened. 

At a meeting of ministers this evening, representatives from media regulator Coimisiún na Meán provided an update on its work on the matter and briefed ministers on upcoming developments.

The regulator is in contact with the European Commission on its work in respect of the issue.

The meeting agreed to accept all recommendations of the AI Advisory council.

Government intends to use Ireland’s EU Presidency in the second half of this year to expand on the list of prohibited practices under the EU’s AI Act to include the generation of non-consensual sexual images and child sexual abuse material.

The meeting also agreed to run an information campaign and support victims of such material by providing guidance on how it can be reported.

Further legislative measures are to be considered by the Attorney General Rossa Fanning and Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan.

Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week ahead of the meeting this evening, Martin said while the 2020 Coco’s Law is “quite comprehensive”, “there may be areas there that we could strengthen”, the Taoiseach continued.

“Bear in mind also that X is a very, very large platform as defined within the European Union legal framework, and so the European Commission is ultimately responsible for such very large platforms.

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“I do anticipate action from the European Commission in respect of this. Already, the gardaí have indicated about 200 complaints have come in. They are pursuing it also in respect of Irish law. 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,” he said. 

Last week, X said that it would block Grok from altering images of real people to show them in “revealing clothing” in places where it is illegal. 

Aside from an update from the Attorney General on existing legislation and the possible updates needed, Coimisiún na Meán also gave a presentation on offensive material on social media.