Online safety is a key government priority. While it is important that technological innovation should be supported, new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), can contribute to misinformation by making it easier for bad actors to create inauthentic or manipulative content.
Policy on AI is led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. At a European level, the recently agreed AI Act sets out a framework for responsible practices in the development and use of AI and the Government’s AI Strategy, currently being revised to reflect the agreed AI Act, aims to further the ways that Government, civil society and industry can work together to mitigate emerging risks and prevent abuse.
The issue of fraudulent ads or scams, content which promotes them, or services which host them, are covered by existing consumer protection law and by the Digital Services Act (DSA). Consumer protection law is monitored and enforced by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), which is under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
The DSA is jointly monitored and enforced by the European Commission (which is the lead enforcer for very large online platforms and search engines) and a network of Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs) in each Member State. Coimisiún na Meán is Ireland's DSC but, as provided for by the DSA, Ireland has designated the CCPC as a competent authority under the DSA in respect of the regulation of online marketplaces given its role in monitoring and enforcing consumer protection law in Ireland.
The DSA requires platforms, such as YouTube and others, to put in place the systems and processes that reduce the availability of illegal and harmful content, whether generated by AI or otherwise, and to prevent their services being manipulated, including to spread disinformation. Coimisiún na Meán's online safety campaign, "Spot it. Flag it. Stop it", aims to help people report illegal content online and detailed information is available on their website.
