Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
189. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the work being done by his Department to regulate AI to protect children from misinformation and toxic online culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16768/26]
View answerThe EU Artificial Intelligence Act, amongst other things, prohibits certain AI systems from being sold or used because they are particularly dangerous. These "prohibited practices" include AI-enabled manipulative techniques which can be used to persuade persons to engage in unwanted behaviours, or to deceive them by nudging them into decisions in a way that subverts and impairs their autonomy, decision-making and free choices.
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is responsible for implementing the EU AI Act in Ireland, through the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026. Under the Bill it is envisaged that Coimisiún na Meán, amongst other things, will act as a Market Surveillance Authority in relation to prohibited practices in respect of the entities that it already regulates, such as social media platforms.
Separately but relatedly, as set out in the National Digital and AI Strategy, the Government is committed to advocating with the European Commission to explore amending the AI Act to expand its list of prohibited AI practices to include AI systems that enable the generation of child sexual abuse material and non-consensual intimate images. This is also being led by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.
Finally, in April 2025, the National Counter Disinformation Strategy was published. The Strategy is rights-based and sets out 9 commitments and 36 actions aimed at countering the harmful effects of disinformation, including misinformation. More information regarding the Strategy is available on the Strategy web page.
