AI-Minister deletes X-account
In protest of the social media platform’s lack of response regarding nudification features, the Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth has deleted her X-account. "We have to demonstrate our objection. The quickest way to do this is to close down our own accounts, which I've personally done myself.”
In light of the recent controversies relating to Grok and nudification Apps, the Minister wrote directly to X to request a meeting to discuss what steps the platform is taking to address these issues and compliance with the law. As of Thursday noon, “I have not heard back from them”, she told the Anglo Celt.
In reaction to this, Niamh Smyth has taken the step to delete her own X-account. Referring to Ireland’s national organisation working to prevent and address the impact of domestic violence and abuse who have made the same decision, she says: “I welcome Women's Aids stance this morning, where they have been out and have removed their own account from X.”
Women’s Aids statement read: “The organisation has watched the increased levels of unchecked hate, misogyny, racism and anti-LGBTI+ content on the platform with growing unease and concern. The current scandal which has seen the creation and sharing of AI deepfakes, non-consensual intimate imagery, and production of child sexual abuse material by X’s own AI Grok, in breach of the platforms own guidelines and regulations is a tipping point.”
Niamh Smyth also said, she had been in contact with Coimisiún na Meán and with the Office of the Attorney General to seek updates on how this matter is being assessed from a legal and regulatory perspective. “We have robust laws in place. Now it is a matter of enforcing them. If somebody commits a crime in this country, if they're brought to court, they're given their sentence, they're given their fines, they have a criminal record or receive imprisonment, that's what it should be.”
Going forward, she is “in favour” of banning all nudification apps.
Read more in next week’s Anglo-Celt.