The Online Safety Commissioner has warned about the rise of AI-generated child sex abuse images.
Niamh Hodnett was speaking as media regulator Coimisiún na Meán launched a new strategy for the coming years which focuses on protecting children, holding platforms to account and tackling disinformation.
In its programme of work for 2025, the regulator said it will pilot a programme to provide support for children at imminent risk of harm from online content, as a precursor to consideration of a wider individual complaints mechanism.
Ms Hodnett said they are very concerned about the rise of child sex abuse material.
“There are two types we are concerned about, one is self-generated by children in their bedroom often unbeknownst to their parents,” she said.
“The other we are concerned about is AI-generated child sex abuse material which has been made by artificial intelligence.”
“Both are increasing in prevalence and we are very concerned about that,” she added.
Streaming levy
Coimisiún na Meán prepared a plan for the Government on a possible future levy for streaming services such as Netflix.
However Minister for Media Patrick O’Donovan said it would not be going ahead.
Executive Chair of Coimisiún na Meán Jeremy Godfrey said the commission had not been undermined by the decision.
“It is a ministerial decision about how you trade off the impact on consumers against the potential benefits for the industry,” Mr Godfrey said.
“That is a policy matter for the Minister and it is entirely appropriate that he should make the decision he made and I don’t think we were undermined by it,” he added.
Elections
The plans published today pledge to reduce the impact of disinformation and tackle online hate.
“We will develop and publish guidance on identifying and reporting illegal hate speech online,” the 2025 programme of work states.
“We will develop and roll out educational materials relating to online hate,” it adds.
Coimisiún na Meán said it is preparing for this year’s presidential election, including research and the ongoing development of resources and tools.
It plans to share the results of research it has conducted into candidates’ experiences of online abuse during last year’s elections.
The commission said it will develop and implement an Electoral Integrity Strategy across all media sources.
“We will continue to participate in the implementation group established following the report of the Task Force on Safe Participation in Political Life,” the commission said.
Protecting consumers
The plans highlight the importance of public awareness of the risks of online fraud, exploitation and scams and of how to mitigate them.
The commission is also calling for greater implementation of advertising controls supporting consumers in identifying advertorial and other commercial content.
