Labour Bill to criminalise AI-generated sexual abuse imagery introduced in Dáil today
Labour Bill to criminalise AI-generated sexual abuse imagery introduced in Dáil today - The Labour Party
Labour’s Alan Kelly TD will today introduce legislation in the Dáil Éireann to close dangerous gaps in Irish law on sexual abuse imagery generated using artificial intelligence, and called on Government to urgently expedite its passage.
The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026 would make it a criminal offence to generate sexual abuse imagery using AI and would explicitly hold publishers legally responsible where they encourage, facilitate, host or distribute such content.
Crucially, the Bill would place clear legal responsibility on major online publishers, including X, Meta, TikTok and Google, ensuring they can no longer evade accountability for the harm caused on their platforms.
Speaking today, Deputy Kelly said:
“It is absolutely crucial that we move quickly to close the loopholes in Irish law. Since the emergence of the Grok scandal, I have been deeply moved by the testimony of people who have been targeted through AI-generated sexual abuse imagery. What we are seeing is real harm happening right now, and the law is not keeping pace.
“This Bill, introduced in the Dáil today, clearly criminalises the act of generating intimate images using AI. It also makes it an offence for publishers to encourage, facilitate or allow the generation and spread of this material. That includes major publishers like X and others operating at scale.
“What Grok and X have exposed is not an isolated incident. It has simply revealed a fraction of what is already happening online. That is why this Bill is deliberately future-proofed. It applies not just to today’s platforms, but to any publisher operating in this space in the years ahead.
“All people have a right to digital safety. No one should live in fear that their image or identity can be abused, manipulated or weaponised without consent. The testimony from women in recent days has been particularly stark. No woman should face the threat of having her image, reputation or dignity violated in this way.
“Government engagement on this issue is welcome, but words are not enough. We need a meaningful timeline set out. That is not good enough given the scale and urgency of the harm being caused.
“This legislation must now be expedited. Government must act immediately. We need to cut this out at publisher level. It really is that simple. As long as publishers are allowed to look the other way, this abuse will continue.
“There is no time to wait. Labour has introduced this Bill today because people need protection now. Government must match that urgency and deliver real, enforceable digital safety for people across Ireland.”
ENDS