Government must back Labour Bill to tackle AI sexual abuse
Government must back Labour Bill to tackle AI sexual abuse - The Labour Party
- Nine months after Grok scandal, victims still wait for Government action
Labour’s Alan Kelly TDhas called on Government to support Labour’s legislation to tackle AI-generated sexual abuse imagery when it comes before the Dáil next Thursday. The Harassment, Harmful
Communications and Related Offences (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026 would close gaps in Irish law and strengthen legal accountability for online platforms.
Deputy Kelly said:
“More than nine months after the Grok/X scandal, Government has still failed to deliver the changes needed to protect people from AI-generated sexual abuse. People who have experienced this abuse deserve more than expressions of concern. They need a law that addresses what perpetrators and platforms can now do.
“Behind every manipulated image is a real person. Someone can take an ordinary photograph and turn it into sexual abuse material without that person’s knowledge or consent. The image may be fake, but the fear, humiliation and damage to someone’s life are real.
“I have heard deeply distressing testimony from people who have experienced this abuse. People have spoken about the violation of their dignity and the fear that these images could reach their families, colleagues or employers. Nobody should have to live with that threat.
“Our Bill would explicitly cover sexual abuse images that someone generates or alters using AI. It would criminalise generating those images without consent for publication or distribution, and make it an offence to encourage or knowingly facilitate their generation for that purpose. That responsibility must extend to the companies that provide these tools. Major publishers, including X, Meta, TikTok and Google, must answer for their conduct under the law. Platforms cannot claim to take safety seriously while escaping responsibility for facilitating abuse.
“Social media companies appeared before the Media Committee last month, yet we still face the same basic problem: companies resist accountability while people bear the consequences. Voluntary assurances cannot substitute for enforceable legal duties.
“Government has had nine months to act. On Thursday, it must support Labour’s Bill, commit to closing these gaps and set a clear timetable for enactment. Every further delay leaves people exposed to abuse that this House has the power to confront.”
ENDS